The Lincoln Highway, while a transcontinental route, had distinct histories and characteristics within individual states. In Delaware, the highway existed as a designated route from the 1910s until 1938, serving as a crucial link from the Maryland border, west of Newark, to the Pennsylvania border in Claymont. This segment traversed significant towns like Newark and Wilmington, playing a role in the early automotive landscape of the state. Similarly,
in Iowa, the Lincoln Highway was a vital artery, known initially as State Primary Road No. 6 before becoming U.S. 30 in 1926. These state-specific narratives highlight how a grand national vision was implemented and evolved at the local level, adapting to existing infrastructure and regional needs.
Delaware's Evolving Route
The Lincoln Highway in Delaware, though no longer a single designated route, is now integrated into several modern roadways. Its path from the Maryland border to Newark is covered by Delaware Route 279. Within Newark, Delaware Route 896 and Delaware Route 273 now follow parts of the original alignment. The stretch between Newark and Wilmington is largely Delaware Route 2, though an eastern portion has been bypassed and is now known as Old Capitol Trail. Further north, between Wilmington and the Pennsylvania border in Claymont, the historic route is incorporated into U.S. Route 13 Business and U.S. Route 13 along Philadelphia Pike. This fragmentation into multiple state and U.S. routes illustrates the dynamic nature of road infrastructure and how older designations are absorbed into newer, more comprehensive systems.
Iowa's Pioneering Efforts and Challenges
In Iowa, the Lincoln Highway faced unique challenges and saw significant local investment. Carl Fisher, the highway's conceiver, helped develop it, and Iowans raised over $5 million for its construction. The route through Iowa, announced on September 14, 1913, was chosen to be the "Iowa Official Trans-Continental Route," already in use by transcontinental motorists. This 358-mile stretch of dirt and gravel roads ran from Clinton west to Council Bluffs, paralleling the Chicago Northwestern Railroad tracks, which followed the driest and least hilly terrain. Rural roads in Iowa were notoriously poor, especially when rain turned them to mud, making the choice of route critical for early travelers.
Greene County, Iowa: A Case Study in Local Development
Greene County, Iowa, stands out for its early commitment to good roads. It was the first Iowa county to receive Rural Free Delivery (RFD) mail service and boasted 175 miles of gravel roads by 1909. When the Lincoln Highway route was announced, the Greene County Board of Supervisors established an official county road system connecting all towns. Citizens and the Board of Supervisors actively raised funds and spent $15,000 in 1914 to improve the highway. A statue of Abraham Lincoln, gifted by E.B. and Minnie Wilson, was placed on the courthouse square in 1918 to commemorate the highway. Greene County was also the first to accept federal funds for paving roads in 1919, and by 1924, all 30 miles within the county were paved. This local initiative, including straightening curves, grading hills, and avoiding rail crossings as highway design evolved, demonstrates the significant community effort behind the national highway project.
Markers and Legacy in Iowa
Six Lincoln Highway markers are known to exist in Greene County, Iowa, with five along the highway and one broken marker in the Greene County Museum. Two of these markers are individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These concrete structures, 48.5 inches high, feature an octagon-shaped post and a rectangular top cast in one piece. A nearly 4-inch medallion of Abraham Lincoln is embedded in the front, inscribed with "This highway dedicated to Abraham Lincoln," along with an "L" and a directional arrow. These markers were the last official signs used to designate the highway's right-of-way, with about 3,000 cast and placed by Boy Scout troops in 1928, approximately one mile apart. The old Lincoln Highway remained a major transportation artery in Iowa into the 1950s until a new U.S. Highway 30 was constructed, further cementing its historical significance.
