This post is the first of what we hope will be one of many that show how people today are helping us to remember the Lincoln Highway. Suppose you’re an active member who does this kind of work in your neck of the woods; let us know. Send some photos and a story, and we might publish it here. Leave a comment at the end of the post so we can connect.
The following is a project that my wife Monica and I completed in our area in California.
The bridge is newer, but there has been a railroad over-crossing at El Dorado Road and Highway 49/193 in Auburn since 1905! Monica and I spent part of Tuesday painting the Lincoln Highway “L” on both ends of the span. The California Chapter of The Lincoln Highway Association (CLHA) uses signs and these stencils to mark the path of the old road, just as the sign painting crews did it from 1914 to 1928.
The CLHA has recently painted other railroads over-crossings, including the 1910 Newcastle tunnel on Old State Highway, two crossings in Applegate, one at Heather Glen, Weimar, Secret Town, and the South Yuba Bridge at Cisco Grove, and finally one at Donner Summit. The Stenciled “L’s” goes along with our Historic Lincoln Highway signs you will notice along the old road. Be sure to check them out when you drive by.
The photo above is looking east. We painted two logos on this side of the bridge.
The picture above shows the same underpass but looking north from the west side.
“DANGER SLOW DOWN. TOOT. TOOT.â€
How can you find and follow the Lincoln Highway? Besides the signs and stencils, the Lincoln Highway Association publishes a Google interactive map showing the route across the country. Just keep zooming in until you are at a level that’s easy to follow. You can find the map here.