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Jefferson Highway
North America's First Transcontinental International Highway


Some original Jefferson Highway between Caney and Caddo, Oklahoma taken November, 2009.

Named after Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States this collection of roads and trails meandered through the land area known as "The Louisiana Purchase" which Jefferson was responsible for. The visionaries of 1915 who committed to building this Highway included a delegation from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada who convinced the Americans to make their city the northern origin of the Pine to Palm Highway. The other end, the terminus, was in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA and it still is to this day. There is a marker at each end of the Highway and most of the roadway still exists in one form or another. It's historical significance to motoring and transportation history is enormous. 

In the fall of 2009 the historic Jefferson Highway (Pine to Palm route) was traveled from beginning to end for the first time in over 50 years. From Winnipeg to New Orleans, a distance of 2300 miles (3700 kilometres) this gem of motoring history has been explored, photographed and publicized.

Early November saw two travelers driving over 1500 miles each, from different ends of the continent to meet at the beginning of the Pine to Palm Highway in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Then in a motorhome outfitted with modern computer mapping and gps systems and using maps taken from a 1920s Jefferson Highway brochure, the team completed a two week journey through over 200 towns and cities all the way to New Orleans, Louisiana on most of the original Jefferson Highway.


Expedition motorhome traveling through a Jeff railroad underpass in Oklahoma, November 2009.
Many people along the road didn't even know that they were on a famous Highway and were excited to hear about it. Other people did know that they were on the Jefferson Highway and they have been keeping the memory alive in many ways. Excellent local museums with Highway memorabilia dot the entire route, new Pine to Palm signs are popping up everywhere and local events such as 'sociability runs' are being organized all along the way. Not to mention that the Jefferson Highway Geocache Challenge is being developed. 

The expedition was welcomed with great enthusiasm by historical societies, chambers of commerce, local politicians and the press throughout the entire journey. The sociability run called the "Pine to Palm Tour '09" was a huge success and will be viewed as the beginning of the re-building of an international tourist destination. "The Jefferson Highway is back!" 


Butler, MO welcomes the Pine to Palm '09 travelers carrying an original Jefferson Highway sign.


It was a great adventure and it will be done again soon. There are plans being formulated for another trip because there is just way too much to see on one pass. The final details have not been worked out yet but it is going to happen very soon. The Pine to Palm Highway is going to be one of the best destinations for "Time Traveling" and a good start has already been made toward retaining it's place in history.

Interesting Fact: You can travel the entire 2300 mile (3700 km) length of the Jefferson Highway in the same time zone!

On our trip we met many people who expressed interest in forming a new Jefferson Highway Association. It is the next important step toward the re-awakening of our famous Highway. With a coordinated effort that an association would bring we can focus the attention of the traveling public and government agencies on the "Jefferson Highway". Our trip last November sent a wave of energy down the Pine to Palm route. Let's keep it going by laying the groundwork for something much bigger than our own area that we can all be part of and benefit from.

It is time to let people know about The Jefferson Highway, let's do it! 

 

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