On a visionary whim and a $50 bet, Dr. Horatio Nelson Jackson became the first person to drive an automobile across the continent. Horatio Nelson Jackson (March 25, 1872 - January 14, 1955) was an American automobile pioneer. Thanks! An automobile trip across the continent that will be watched with a great deal of interest will start from this city this morning. "Which way to Marysville?" Jackson did manage to find a telegraph office and wired back to San Francisco for replacement tires to be transported to them along the journey. Horatio Nelson Jackson (March 25, 1872 - January 14, 1955) was an American physician and automobile pioneer. "At the time they made the trip, there was a perception that the American frontier was closed. Horatio's Journey. He was in San Francisco on vacation with his wife when, while sharing a few beers with some friendly strangers at the local University Club, he insisted that he had what it took to drive a car across the US. The running time to Alturas was five and a half days; about 125 miles per day, without accident or incident worthy of mention. Hmm, perhaps youve never stopped to think about it before. Here we slept under our carriage. The state of Vermont was so alarmed that it passed a law requiring every auto to be preceded down the street with a person waving a red flag. (You can see a few clips on the PBS website.) Copyright20062023,Somerightsreserved. WhenWorld War Ibroke out, Jackson was considered too old to serve, but he contactedPresident Theodore Roosevelt and volunteered to became a commissioned officer. [citation needed]. took Jackson 63 days, cost him $8,000 and left a transcontinental trail littered with broken parts, tools, clothes, flat tires and tears. Jackson decided to take a more northerly route. Horatio's Drive America's First Road Trip In the spring of 1903, on a whim and a fifty-dollar bet, Dr. Horatio Nelson Jackson set off from San Francisco in a 20-horsepower Winton touring car hoping to become the first person to cross the United States in the new-fangled "horseless carriage." I had to know more! The canine was quickly fitted with a pair of goggles and, from then on, got second billing only to the "whizz wagon," as one newspaper called the "Vermont. I came pretty nearly having cold feet. What part of history will come to life when we see it with our own eyes? Horatio Jackson's Winton in the Smithsonian, 5. Theres also a book which I grabbed on my very next visit to the library. "Discovering their loss, Jackson and Crocker determined that living off the countryside or starving was less to be feared than a return trip," wrote Jackson's friend Ralph Nading Hill in his book "The Mad Doctor's Drive. We are spending most of the time trying to get out of water and mud holes. Making matters worse, these trails were generally considered informaland werent typically mapped with any senseof care or accuracy. Jackson was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on March 25, 1872, a son of Samuel Nelson Jackson (18381913) and Mary Anne (Parkyn) Jackson (18431916). The amazing journey of Dr. Horatio Nelson Jackson, and the first successful car trip across the United States, has been commemorated in a documentary film by the celebrated Ken Burns, "Horatio's Drive: America's First Road Trip", which debuts Monday, October 6th, at 9:00 p.m. on PBS. Contractor Welland assisted the party back to Archer and they are now coming to Cheyenne to remain till repairs can be made. Postcard from the mid-1920s of a scene near Pocatello, Idaho before the road was officially named U.S. Highway 30.; (map on right) Route of Horatio's journey, arriving in Soda Springs June 16, 1903. Items continued to be lost, including another pair of Jackson's glasses. Just as soon as I can get decent tires we will make a record run. Ill admit, I hadnt given it much thought myself despite my own epic road trip history. The film features many old songs, framed by a popular number from 1914 called "He'd Have to Get Under Get Out and Get Under (to Fix Up His Automobile)". Finally, the end is in sight! I want to celebrate here by getting my new parts. He'd Have to Get Under Get Out and Get Under (to Fix Up His Automobile), "The First Cross-Country Road Trip Took 2 Men and a Pitbull 63 Days", "Three Transports in with Men and Supplies", "Col. Jackson, Legion's Father in Vt., Is Dead", "Persons from Many Parts of Vt. to Attend Col. Jackson's Funeral", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Horatio_Nelson_Jackson&oldid=1135349527, Bertha Richardson Wells (m. 1899 d. 1954), first U.S. cross country trip by automobile, This page was last edited on 24 January 2023, at 03:30. Way out West: H. Nelson Jackson at the wheel of his Winton. On June 6th however, the car finally suffered a severe mechanical issue forcing them to stop all forward progress near Burns, Oregon for several days. Horatio Nelson Jacksons road trip occasionally picked up help from more traditional means, More trailside repairs on Horatio Nelson Jacksons 1903 Road Trip, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window). Press Clipping from Horatio Nelson Jacksons road trip across America. Whether or not a bet was really made, it did happen rather suddenly. "We're standing in . They include: Archival footage of Horatio Nelson Jackson is included. I explained to them that the next stop was twelve miles away and that if they would help us out I would take their baggage in for them. I feel more confident that I can make New YorkWe are causing a great sensation along the road it is the first machine that has ever gone over these mountains. Packard and Oldsmobile had for several months been meticulously planning similar trips with expert drivers and mechanics, support crews and modified cars when Jackson simply loaded up the Winton and split. Horatio Nelson Jackson departed San Francisco on May 23rd, 1903 for what was to become America's first ever road trip - and all because of a 50 dollar bet made just 5 days prior. The fateful bet was made during a club room discussion on May 19, 1903, when Jackson and his wife were on a stopover in San Francisco after they had traveled to Mexico and Alaska looking at potential mining investments. "Why did you send us way down there?" On the first night of the journey they discovered that the side lanterns were too dim. There had to be an easier way to win a $50 bet. Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps. Once underway again, it was only 3 days later that they ran out of oil. The first American automobiles had been built only 10 years earlier, and most people in America had never set eyes on the wildly expensive contraptions. In honor of its achievement it was decorated with tiny flags and draped with national standards. On June 6, the car broke down, and they had to be towed to a nearby ranch by a cowboy on horseback. This is a carousel. Horatio's Drive: America's First Road Trip View history Horatio's Drive: America's First Road Trip is a 2003 documentary film directed by Ken Burns and written by Dayton Duncan. On July 26, 1903, Horatio Nelson Jackson, a 31-year-old Vermont doctor, and his 22-year-old mechanic, Sewall Crocker, became the first to cross the United States in an automobile. Between 12th and 14th Streets Source: 'The Mad Doctor's Drive,' by Ralph Nading Hill; 'Winton 1903,' by Peter C. Kesling. His enthusiasm was matched only by his underestimate of the effort needed to accomplish the journey. By 1900, he had given up his medical practice and was happily spending his wife Bertha's money on property, travel, horses and, most recently, automobiles. The party went to the Hollenden Hotel for a clean-up and for supper while the faithful bull dog mascot remained in charge and fought flies and kept off inquisitive newsboys. Churning dust irritated Buds eyes, and Jackson purchased this pair of goggles for him. Occasionally horses and cars gave her "The majority opinion expressed was that, save for short distances, the automobile was an unreliable novelty," Jackson later wrote. Enter Horatios Drive: Americas First Road Trip, a documentary produced by Ken Burns. It has been an awful long time to us and I shall be mighty glad when we are on the way again and unless another serious accident happens we ought to be able to make good time across these plainsWell, tomorrow is our anniversary & I wish I could be with you. All Rights Reserved. Jackson described the mostly unmarked paths he was forced to bounce over as "a compound of ruts, bumps and thank-you-marms.". The Winton Touring Car "Vermont" and Bud Googles are displayed in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History until this day. The Winton Motor Carriage Company published details about the Jackson-Crocker cross-country trip and emphasized the cars ruggedness and reliability. Yet the young retired doctor, along with a mechanical assistant and a dog, took up the . Thankfully, they could then manage about 250 miles a day. As soon as they left San Francisco though, trouble began tochase them down. The Jackson-Crocker trip excited people across the nation. The family all turned out to stare at us and told us we'd have to go back.We went back, and met the red-haired young woman again. You are the best little wife in the world and I am a mighty lucky fellow to have you.Yes, old girl, I appreciate it, if, sometimes I have a queer way of showing it.Four years tomorrow!!!! Having resupplied the best they could, they struck back out onto the open roader,open range. At the time there were only 150 miles of paved roads in the entire country, all of them within city limits. Sponsored by the National American Woman Suffrage Association, the trip began and ended in New We only made 45 miles in our direct route. Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps. LOS ANGELES, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- On May 23, 1903, Horatio Nelson Jackson was just two days into his grand adventure of becoming the first person . . ", Jackson had wanted a dog along on the trip and purchased the American bulldog, Bud, in Caldwell, Idaho. [6] They were also forced to pay a $4 (equivalent to $121 in 2021[3]) toll by a land-owner in order to cross his property on a "bad, rocky, mountain road" as Jackson described it. After twomore days ofplanning and preparation, the two began their unbelievable impromptu journey eastwardtowards New York City. [13], Jackson's military awards included the Distinguished Service Cross, the Legion of Honour, and the Croix de Guerre. "They were the visionaries and crackpots, which is sometimes the same person. His siblings included John Holmes Jackson, who served several terms as mayor of Burlington, Vermont. The technology nevertheless began to catch on, slowly. From there on, they were able to use a few paved roads, and their trip was much easier. Or sometimes I just need to, Read More The Right Word Peter Roget and His ThesaurusContinue, If youve never heard of Snowflake Bentley, then Ive got a treat for you! Keep in mind that the cars of 1903 were little more than expensive playthings for hobbyists and hadnt really been proven to be worthy of such a bet. All day yesterday it was visited by admiring automobilists, and curious passersby peeped in upon it. Want to know what other interesting things there are to see out on the road? Many days of the journey, especially in the beginning, were spent parked in a town awaiting replacement parts to arrive via stagecoach or train so they they could continue on. Keep reading to find out more Which came first, the snow or the passion? Following the railroad right-of-way seemed the best way to go as they headed out. Its subject is the first cross-country automobile journey in the United States, which occurred during the summer of 1903. PBS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. In 1903, he and driving partner Sewall K. Crocker became the first people to drive an automobile across the United States. "From Sea to Sea in a Horseless Carriage", Dr. H.N. Dr. Horatio Nelson Jackson, otherwise known as "The Mad Doctor," had no idea what he was getting into in 1903 when he strapped a spare tire onto his 20-horsepower Winton touring car and started out from San Francisco's Palace Hotel on the first automobile trip across America. That someone was Horatio Jackson Nelson. A stop of two days was made here to await their arrival, and on Tuesday morning the adventurous travelers resumed their journey.". Jackson attended the schools of Toronto and Toronto's collegiate institute. Jackson and S.K. It was one of the few original parts never replaced during the entire journey. Driving Directions to Omaha, NE including road conditions, live traffic updates, and reviews of local businesses along the way. Ironically enough, I saw the headline for this story the night before I headed to the airport on, Read More The Voice of the AirportContinue, No trip to Albuquerque, New Mexico, is complete without a visit to the Anderson Abruzzo International Balloon Museum. The trip took 64 days, including numerous delays while the two men waited for parts or paused to hoist the Winton up and over a gully. Click on each stop of the journey to learn. About 15 miles (24km) from home his car once again broke down. The Jackson party left Chicago at noon Saturday and arrived in Cleveland at 5:00 p.m. Monday, remarkably good time for notoriously bad roads which had been rendered worse by continued hard rains. The rough and tumble wagon trails which they followed, combined with the noisiness of their Winton, rendered them unable to tell when they would lose valuable items off the back of the car. At 30 mph, "Horatio Nelson Jackson didn't have to worry about someone going 75 mph on the highway and running him over," said author Dayton Duncan, who wrote and co-produced the documentary and companion book "Horacio's Drive," with Burns. H. Nelson Jackson, a physician and businessman from Burlington, Vermont, captured the nations attention when he and Sewall K. Crocker, a mechanic, drove from The only mishap happened just east of Buffalo, New York, when the Vermont ran into a hidden obstacle in the road and Jackson, Crocker, and Bud were thrown from the car. Jackson and Crocker followed trails, rivers, mountain passes, alkali flats, and the Union Pacific Railroad across the West. By all accounts,Horatios bet was one made in the innocence of drunken exuberance. But if there was one thing Horatio had, it was a steadfast commitment to the dream. Both Packard and Oldsmobile were unable to maintain their forward progress through the tough times of the Rockies and within a month each, they eventually gave up their efforts to beat Horatio, Jackson and Bud to be the first to complete a journey across the North American continent in an automobile. A series of American university professors of history provided background information. But, 2 days after the bet, Horatiofinalized the purchase of his first car, a Winton that he dubbed The Vermont after his home state. The trip, sparked by a $50 gentlemen's wager, took 63 days. The worst of it is over & everyone is congratulating us.There are [others] on the way trying to beat us across. [but] I feel confident they will give it up. Jackson and Crocker opted to start out following the railroad north into Oregon. So many windmills! ", Bud, wrote Jackson, was "the one member of (our) trio who used no profanity on the entire trip.". [6], Jackson continued to reside in Burlington, Vermont, with his wife Bertha and Bud the dog. The axle crank and two connecting rods broke and they had to send to the Cleveland factory to replace them. On July 12, the two men and the dog arrived in Nebraska where they found themselves back on paved roads. Reaching Alturas, California, Jackson and Crocker stopped to wait for the tires. Funding provided by General Motors, The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, The Arthur Vining Davis Foundation, and the Park Foundation. The trek will begin at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco with a gala sendoff, including the attendance of filmmaker Ken Burns, who recently completed a documentary about the first cross-country drive. The threat of the other teams would spur Jackson and Horatio on, pushing them to step up their pace across the unending Great Plains of Nebraska and beyond. Proper roads were so few and far between at this point, that there were no maps. The trip,. Location. The two-cylinder, 20-horsepower Winton that Kesling will be driving has only two speeds -- slow and slower. By CATHERINE SEIPP. "The rubber tires on the machine were somewhat worn and a new supply was ordered from the East by telegraph to be sent to this place. In 1903, Dr. Horatio Nelson Jackson single handedly silenced a conversation taking place at the San Francisco University Club. His wife, though supportive of the trip, opted for a much easier train ride home to Vermont. He then hired a partner/mechanic, Samuel Crocker, who was a successful bicycle racer to accompany him on his journey east. Driving Directions to Prescott, AZ including road conditions, live traffic updates, and reviews of local businesses along the way. On the second night, they stopped early in Sacramento and replaced them with a large spotlight mounted on the front of the Vermont. Crocker of Seattle, both of whom are at the Palace ready for the journey. On their arrival, the mud besmirched and travel stained vehicle which had borne them so faithfully and sturdily over fifty-six hundred miles of roads between the Pacific and the Atlantic was housed in a garage in West 58th Street. Basin & Range is the premier resource for living the Active Outdoor Western Lifestyle. Got onto the right road again and reached Orchid at eleven oclock. An article in the. African American History Curatorial Collective. Funding provided by General Motors, The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, The Arthur Vining Davis Foundation, and the Park Foundation. (4) The men created a 100-foot path of sagebrush so the car could drive over the sandy soil. Take good care of yourself & dont worry. Pin it so that others can experience the first American cross-country road trip and compare it to some of their own adventures! The idea of driving across the country captured the imagination of millions of Americans. The rough trek towards Oregon required them to haul the car across deep streams with the block and tackle. Horatio's Drive: America's First Road Trip TV Movie 2003 TV-G 1 h 47 m IMDb RATING 8.0 /10 546 YOUR RATING Rate Documentary Adventure History The saga of Horatio Nelson Jackson, the first man to cross the United States by automobile--in 1903! At their next stop, Jackson had to wire his wife to send them money to Cheyenne, Wyoming. Of course, these guidebooks were only published in the more-populated East at the time. Im Sheila - a wife, mom to 3, and favorite human of a slightly-neurotic dog. Jackson had made it from San Francisco in 63 days, 12 hours, and 30 minutes - well within his wager of 90 days. Im laid-back, sometimes scattered, a little curious, love to laugh, and always up for a fun road trip. Fortunately, Jackson was an optimist. The film is based on the book of the same name by Dayton Duncan. Article from American Heritage . Steve Perkins, Executive Director of the Vermont Historical Society, gives us a little background, before launching into the fascinating story of Dr. Horatio Nelson Jackson. Despite mud, washouts, breakdowns, and a lack of roads and bridges in the West, they finished their trip in 63 days. As luck would have it, the movie was available on Amazon prime for just a few more days so I immediately added it to the top of my list. and their dog Bud made the first successful transcontinental automobile trip. No one was injured; it was the only accident on the trip. At Mountain Home, Idaho they veered from the Oregon Trail for the first time since near the California border and turned south glancing by the southern edge of the Sawtooth Mountains. Dr. Jackson is a man of wealth, who is very fond of automobiling. Generally speaking, America in 1903 hadno roadsbetween cities, towns, or any other landmarks for that matter. Sign up to get updates about the film and future projects from Ken Burns and Florentine Films. A broken mud guard and a sprung front axle alone attested the hard knocks it had had on its long journey. With them they brought little more than a couple of coats, some protective canvas suits, a couple of sleeping bags, some blankets, canteens, a water bag, an ax, a shovel, a telescope, some bicycle repair tools, a few spare parts, a block and tackle, extra cans gasoline and oil, a camera, a rifle, a shotgun, and a couple of pistols. He owned a newspaper, a bank andradio station WCAX (nowWVMT). Dr. Jackson started his trek in San Francisco in a 20-horsepower Winton touring car he called "Vermont" (honoring the state in which he and his wife Bertha lived), and the final destination was Burlington, Vermont. The finishing dash over the plains to the East Coast was as much a struggle with the "buffalo wallows" as it was with the car, but in the end Jackson was not to be denied. The Vermont native had married the daughter of a decorated Civil War general who was one of the richest men in Burlington. Interested in having your company's ad featured on Basin & Range Magazine? Horatio Nelson Jackson (March 25, 1872 - January 14, 1955) . In 1903 there were only 150 miles of paved roads in the entire nation and most people had never seen a "horseless buggy" - but that did not stop Horatio Nelson Jackson, a 31-year-old Vermont doctor, who impulsively bet $50 that he could drive his 20-horsepower automobile from San Francisco to New York City. After repairing the flat, they stopped again inSacramento, CA to replace & upgrade their all too dim headlights and met some friendly cyclists who offered them road maps to the local area. Jackson and Crocker face obstacle after obstacle on their trip. We shall now try & make a record trip. Jackson had spent Crocker Will Start this Morning on Automobile Trip They Hope Will End in New York. Having no mechanical experience, Jackson convinced a young mechanic and chauffeur, Sewall K. Crocker, to serve as his travel companion, mechanic, and backup driver. 15 miles into the journey, they blew the first of what would be many, many tires. "I wanted paw and maw and my husband to see you," she said. As I had been trying to steal one we were glad to get him so accepted the present (consideration $15.00). This is a bad start for our first eleven days out. It was a fascinating story, full of experiences that I could totally relate to while at the same time it was an adventure I could hardly imagine. Long-distance road trips and other publicity stunts helped establish the automobile in Americans consciousness long before cars became commonplace. Bud, a bulldog, accompanied the drivers, and was featured in many news photos. Horatio Jackson's Winton in the Smithsonian. There is nothing more quintessentially American than to set out on the open road in search of adventure. $8,000 on the trip, including hotel rooms, gasoline, tires, parts, supplies, food, and the cost of the Winton. Quite a flurry of excitement was erected Saturday evening by the arrival of an automobile. At one point, Bud drank bad water and became ill, but survived. [6] They arrived in New York City on July 26, 1903, 63 days, 12 hours, and 30 minutes after commencing their journey in San Francisco, in the first automobile to successfully transit the North American continent. But only 15 miles (24km) into the journey, the car blew a tire. They offered locals rides in the car in exchange for a "wild west show". [8] Jackson had wanted a dog companion since Sacramento. They have been very short & dear ones to me. Jackson chose a cherry red 1903 Winton Company touring car. Ramseys sisters-in-law and a friend accompanied her on the trip from New York to San Francisco. This they consented to do and in about an hour we were on our way again. Our car will now be as good as new.We have had hard luck, but I think it all came at once. "[Horatio Nelson Jackson], My darling Girl: We have crossed the mountains & dont expect to come to anymore until we get into Idaho. At Hailey, Idaho, Crocker wired the Winton Company for more parts. After driving the distance, they moved the path back in front of the car, repeating the process until they cleared the area. Very few of our citizens had ever seen this, one of the wonders of the century, and large crowds gazed with curious interest at the horseless wagon. We returned and took supper with the section hand. Another brother, Hollister Jackson, served as Lieutenant governor of Vermont. His beat includes earthquake research, marine biology, wildfire science, nuclear testing, archaeology, wildlife and scientific exploration of land and sea. Nell Richardson, Alice Burke, and the Golden Flier, 1916. 42 38.862 N, 111 42.124 W. Marker is near Soda Springs, Idaho, in Caribou County. He was frightening horses. They left San Francisco on May 23, 1903, loaded with gear and enthusiasm. While it was neither, the people's curiosity had been aroused from a report that an automobile was coming this way, and that if they wished to see it pass it was necessary to have a seat in the front row, otherwise it might go through at the rate of 90 miles an hour, and would be out of sight before they could run a block.It drove in sight at just 4 o'clock and the crowds surged forward to get a first look at a real live auto, a machine that nine-tenths of the people of Lake county had never seen. In 1916, a car covered its entire length in just 5 days so much faster than that first trip across the country! [17][18], In 1944, Jackson gave his Winton, the Vermont, to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., where it is preserved.[6]. Except for its heavy coat of mud and dilapidated front tires, the car is little the worse for its rough usage. Dr. H. Nelson Jackson and Sewall K. Crocker, his chauffeur, finished the first transcontinental automobile trip at half-past four o'clock yesterday morning.
