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The Jefferson Highway
was the first transcontinental road to traverse the North American continent
North and South and possibly
the First Dedicated International Highway in the
world. Conceived at a meeting in New Orleans in 1915 the highway was
dedicated in 1919. Its
Northern end was in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada then running
through Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas and ending in
New Orleans, Louisiana on the southern coast of
the United States. The Jefferson Highway only existed
as a named highway for a few years
until it lost it's title to the new standardized numbering system in the
1920s but now historians are bringing it back. Several societies and historical groups have kept the
Jefferson Highway's name alive with museums,
monuments, local automobile tours and annual celebrations. As we locate websites with history of this highway or
groups who hold annual
celebrations we will add them to our links
page and to our interactive map.
Two notable motorcades traversed this highway. One in 1919 traveling
from New Orleans north to Winnipeg on the Palm to Pine
Highway. In early 1926 a motorcade traveled the
other way from Winnipeg to New Orleans on the Pine to Palm Highway in
the dead of winter. This website is dedicated to the intrepid
motorists who made those historic journeys.
jeffersonhighway.com
is centred around Maps of the Jefferson
Highway as it exists today. Links are being established on the map to the many fine
museums, historical societies and individuals who are keeping important
history alive. We will do what we can to promote The Jefferson Highway and it's
history.
Any information, anecdotes, relatives,
maps, notes, pictures about those very early motoring adventures of 1919 and
1926 are always welcome.
If you have something that you would like to share we will be happy to
feature you and your contributions on this website. Send us an e-mail.
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We will keep you up to date here with the goal of furthering the revival of the
Jefferson Highway as an International Monument.
Jefferson Highway's time has come. This may be a more significant
historical highway than the more well known one's such as Route 66 since
the Jefferson Highway is older, longer and traverses two countries. Not
to mention that a stretch of Route 66 rests on top of The Jefferson Highway
near Carthage MO.
It is time to let people know about The Jefferson Highway
because it is an International Highway of Historical
Importance. Your support with information has been wonderful,
please keep it coming.
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Jefferson Highway near Noel, Missouri
(taken with a cell phone camera)
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