The First Trip By Car From San Francisco To New York
12 Jan 2007
The first car to go across country was a 1903 cherry red tour car by Alexander Winton's company. It took Dr. Horatio Nelson Jackson, Sewall K. Crocker, a 22 year old bicycle repairman and Bud, a goggle wearing bulldog purchased in Iowa, 63 days, 12 hours and 30 minutes to make the trip. The trip began in San Francisco when Dr. Jackson, 31 years old, accepted a wager of $50 if he could drive all the way to New York in 90 days. Within four days he set out in the 1903 Winston Touring Car he purchased from a San Francisco businessman along the route of Lewis and Clark.
The first of his continuing tire and mechanical failures came 15 miles from San Francisco. Along the way the small group would wait for supplies delivered by train or stage coach. As the journey proceed they were meet by thousands in the small towns along the way.
The trip ended on July 26 as the team crossed the Harlem River into Manhattan. Jackson never collected on his 50 dollar bet.
