The First Automobile Ride Across the United States

Imagine taking a road trip to a nearby city, in an automobile that might break down every 20 miles, with a top speed of 30 miles per hour, on dirt roads, without a windshield. These are the conditions that the first two men who crossed the country via an automobile had to endure.

Dr. Horatio Nelson Jackson decided to take the trip to settle a $50 bet - that an automobile could indeed make it across America, which at the time, many believed was not possible. He wagered that he could make the trip from in 90 days or less.

The doubters had good reason to believe the trip was an impossibility - the other people who attempted the feat failed miserably. Automobiles were not very reliable, and were better suited for short distances within cities. Road conditions were atrocious, with only about 150 miles of paved roads in the United States, and gas stations did not exist.

The trip began on May 23,1903, as Dr. Jackson and his mechanic, Sewell Crocker set out for New York City, from San Francisco, in a Winton touring car, which Jackson named "The Vermont". Their first of many mis-haps begin less than 20 miles outside of San Francisco, when they had a flat tire. This would be the first of many frequent breakdowns, which seemed to happen at every turn. In one case, a team of 20 horses had to tow the Vermont to its nearest destination for repairs.

Mechanical problems, which often left Jackson and Crocker stranded for days on end while waiting for the railroad to deliver parts, were not the only setbacks they would encounter on their journey. On one occasion, a young women who they asked to get directions from intentionally sent them down a road several miles in the wrong direction. The reason? She wanted them to drive by her house so her family could see a car for the first time.

During the trip, Jackson and Crocker were looking for a little companionship, and acquired a dog known as "Bud". As news spread of the journey, people in small towns across America would line the streets to get a glimpse of the Vermont, the two men, and Bud, who wore a pair of goggles to keep the dust out of his eyes.

By the time Crocker and Jackson rolled into New York City on July 26, 1903, they spent a grueling 63 days on the road, and over $8,000 for the journey. Rumor has it that he never collected on the $50 bet, but the fact of the matter is that they had an adventure of a lifetime, and made history in the process.