The Lincoln Highway ran through the central business districts of hundreds of small towns and cities across the U.S., giving substance to claims that it was the nation's main street. For small-town merchants it brought customers and trade, prompting local organizations to promote their towns and attract travelers to nearby businesses. In Iowa, the route passed through nearly 50 towns and about 45 Main Streets, including First Street in Mt. Vernon, where businesses serving motorists included a garage, a gas station, and a tourist camp. The highway also passed colleges and universities including Rutgers, Princeton, Iowa State College in Ames, the Davis branch of the University of California, Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, and Coe College in Cedar Rapids. In Mt. Vernon, a small bridge built about 1910 removed the hazard of crossing railroad tracks; after closing to cars in the 1980s and remaining open to pedestrians, it was restored to its original design in 2001. The brick street leading to the bridge is a remnant of the original highway. Although economic trends have weakened many small-town Main Streets, Mt. Vernon's First Street remains vibrant and much as it appeared when it was part of the Lincoln Highway. Its two main blocks are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the Cornell College campus, which lined five blocks of the route, is also listed and remains virtually unchanged in appearance over the past one hundred years.