Illinois Lincoln Highway

The Lincoln Highway became the preferred route for transcontinental automobile speed records, usually backed by small car companies competing with General Motors and Ford. The first record came in 1916, when Bobby Hammond set the mark at six days, 10 hours, 59 minutes, and over time that fell to four days, 14 hours. Among the best-known runs were L. B. Miller's 1925 crossing in 102 hours, 45 minutes and his 1926 round trip, during which he stopped only one minute in New York City before driving west again in "The Flying Lady." On Wednesday, August 25, 1915, former race car driver and movie star Anita King left Los Angeles aiming to become the first woman to cross the continent alone. She traveled the Illinois Lincoln Highway en route and, after completing the trip successfully, began production of a film version titled "The Race," starring Anita King and Victor Moore.

Fulton, Illinois · United States