 |
The Lincoln Highway
National Museum & Archives
102 Old Lincoln Way West
Galion, Ohio 44833
(202) 536-5329
|
|
1925--Mr. L. B. Miller--1931
"King of the Lincoln
Highway"
Lewis B. Miller was not your normal guy.
He loved adventure and the "Open Road" and as a kid rode his
bike from New York to San Francisco not once, twice, but three times!
In 1923 inspite of his busy work schedule as
Pacific Coast Manager
for Victor X-Ray Corporation in San Francisco he found time in 1923
to pilot an automobile across the Continent.
Things didn't go well and he eventually gave up
after sending back to the company the only remaining parts:
The steering wheel and the horn.
Soon there after he began a quest for the perfect
automobile,
one with the power, endurance, comfort and driveability
to make a shot at the Transcontinental Record.
At the age of 50 he found that car in a Wills
Sainte Claire-Six Roadster
and set out in July of 1925 from New York City with his driving
companion Mr.A. Hanson.
102 hours and 45 minutes later they astonished the
automobile world when they
arrived in San Francisco with L.B. driving all but 750 miles of the
3423 miles.
And so the Race was on...
Almost a year later, Abe Jenkins and Ray Peck
driving a Studebaker
shaved the records time down to 86 hours and 20 minutes.
A little over a month later he and J.E. Wieber,
from Portland, Oregon
set out from San Francisco to take back what was rightfully theirs.
His time 83 hours and 12 minutes.
Once again He was "King of the Road".
Not to be outdone he set out to do the impossible.
At the age of 52 he and Mr. Wieber "Accomplished
the Unprecedented Feat"
in a 1927 Chrysler 80 - Coast to Coast and back Again!!
6721 Miles in an incredible 167 hours and 59
minutes,
one minute shy of 7 days.
Then as if that weren't enough,
in 1931 at the age of 57 he did it again
this time in a Plymouth
beating his previous time by more than 40 hours.
Take a moment and investigate his incredible
adventures.
1925--L.
B. Miller Breaks Coast to Coast Record--1925
3423 Miles - 102 Hours and 45 Minutes |
 |
L.
B. Miller's Hood Ornament
1926 Wills Sainte Claire
Wills
Sainte Claire Museum
Marysville, MI
|
 |
| DAY |
WEEK |
DATE |
CITY |
STATE |
TIME |
| 0 |
Tuesday |
July 14, 1925 |
New York City |
NY |
1:00 am EST |
| 1 |
Wednesday |
July 15,1925 |
Clinton
|
IA |
7:00 am EST |
| 2 |
Thursday |
July 16,1925 |
Laramie
|
WY |
7:45 am MST |
| 3 |
Friday |
July 17, 1925 |
Ely |
NV |
7:15 am PST |
| 4 |
Saturday |
July 18, 1925 |
San Francisco |
NY |
5:45 am PST |
| DAY |
DATE |
PAPER |
HEAD LINE |
PAGE |
COL |
SIZE |
PHOTO |
VIEW |
| Wed+4 |
July 22 |
New York Times |
Claims a Motor Record |
34 |
3 |
3" |
No |
Click |
| Sun+8 |
July 26 |
San Francisco Chronicle |
S.F. Man in Record Trip Across
U.S. |
A-1,3 |
8,1 |
20" |
4-Map |
Click |
| Sun+8 |
July 26 |
San Francisco Chronicle |
Wills Sainte Claire
Breaks Road Record |
A-8 |
P-4 |
3/8 |
Ad |
Click |
| Sun+8 |
July 26 |
San Francisco Examiner |
New Mark Set Cross Country |
A-5 |
5 |
10" |
1 |
Click |
| Sun |
Jan 10, 26 |
New York Times |
Wills Sainte Claire-The
Most Remarkable Thing... |
A-26 |
1/2 |
P-4" |
Ad |
Click |
| SPONSOR |
TITLE |
STYLE |
SIZE |
COLOR |
PAGES |
PHOTOS |
PDF |
VIEW |
| Wills Sainte Claire |
The Flight of the Grey Goose |
Booklet |
5 1/2 x 8 1/2 |
Duotone |
15 |
Map+6 |
6.7 Mb |
Click
|
Italic
Type Denotes Advertiser
Click on Hyperlink to View Image
|
1926--L.
B. Miller- Regains Coast to Coast Record--1926
83 Hours and 12 Minutes |
| DAY |
WEEK |
DATE |
CITY |
STATE |
TIME |
| 0 |
Monday |
August 23, 1926 |
San Francisco |
CA |
9 pm PST |
| 1 |
Tuesday |
August 24,1926 |
*****
|
***** |
***** |
| 2 |
Wednesday |
August 25,1926 |
*****
|
***** |
***** |
| 3 |
Thursday |
August 26, 1926 |
****** |
***** |
***** |
| 4 |
Friday |
August 27, 1926 |
New York City |
NY |
12:12 am EST |
| DAY |
DATE |
PAPER |
HEAD LINE |
PAGE |
COL |
SIZE |
PHOTO |
VIEW |
| Sat+1 |
August 28 |
San Francisco Chronicle |
Motor Beats Train Time in Ocean
to Ocean Run |
14 |
5 |
7" |
No |
Click |
| Sat+1 |
August 28 |
New York Times |
Autoist Speeds Across Continent
in 83 Hours... |
13 |
4-5 |
6" |
No |
Click |
| Sun+2 |
August 29 |
San Francisco Chronicle |
S.F. to N.Y. Mark Broken by
Localite |
A-12 |
1-4 |
10" |
2 |
Click |
| Sun+2 |
August 29 |
San Francisco Examiner |
Cross Country Record Broken |
A-2 |
5-7 |
15" |
No |
Click |
| Mon+3 |
August 30 |
New York Times |
Trains Still Hold Record |
8 |
5 |
4" |
No |
Click |
| Sun+9 |
Sept 5 |
New York Times |
A Record for Cross Country Runs |
RP-4 |
5 |
4" |
1 |
Click |
Italic
Type Denotes Advertiser
Click on Hyperlink to View Image
|
1927--L.
B. Miller-Coast to Coast and back again!--1927
6721 Miles-167 Hours and 59 Minutes |
| DAY |
WEEK |
DATE |
CITY |
STATE |
TIME |
| 0 |
Tuesday |
May 31, 1927 |
San Francisco |
CA |
10 am PST |
| 1 |
Wednesday |
June 1,1927 |
Cheyenne
|
WY |
***** |
| 2 |
Thursday |
June 2, 1927 |
Chicago |
IL |
***** |
| 3 |
Friday |
June 3, 1927 |
New York City |
NY |
9:55 am EST |
| 4 |
Saturday |
June 4, 1927 |
Indianapolis |
IN |
***** |
| 5 |
Sunday |
June 5, 1927 |
Kansas City |
MO |
***** |
| 6 |
Monday |
June 6, 1927 |
Santa Fe |
NM |
***** |
| 7 |
Tuesday |
June 7, 1927 |
Los Angeles |
CA |
9:59 am PST |
| DAY |
DATE |
PAPER |
HEAD LINE |
PAGE |
COL |
SIZE |
PHOTO |
VIEW |
| Sat*4 |
June 4 |
New York Times |
Crosses Continent in Auto in 80
hours |
19 |
2 |
8" |
No |
Click |
| Sun*5 |
June 5 |
New York Times |
Chrysler-Chrysler
Smashes Transcontinental Record |
26 |
3/8 |
P-4 |
Ad |
Click |
| Sun*5 |
June 5 |
San Francisco Chronicle |
L. B. Miller Shatters All US
Records |
A-13 |
1-4 |
25 |
2 |
Click |
| Sun*5 |
June 5 |
San Francisco Chronicle |
Chrysler-Smashes
Transcontinental Record |
A-11 |
3/8 |
P-4 |
Ad |
Click |
| Wed+1 |
June 8 |
Los Angeles Times |
Western Auto-See
the Headlights |
III-2 |
1/8 |
P-2 |
Ad |
Click |
| Thur+2 |
June 9 |
Los Angeles Times |
Chrysler-Coast
to Coast and back Again! |
I-4 |
3/8 |
P-4 |
Ad |
Click |
| Sun+5 |
June 12 |
New York Times |
Chrysler-Coast
to Coast and back Again! |
VIII-7 |
Full |
Full |
Ad |
Click |
| Sun+5 |
June 12 |
New York Times |
Miller Finishes Record Motor Trip |
VIII-17 |
6 |
2" |
No |
Click |
| Sun+5 |
June 12 |
New York Times |
Ilco-Ryan-Lites-Miller...amazing
round trip |
VIII-17 |
3/8 |
P-4 |
Ad |
Click |
| Sun+5 |
June 12 |
New York Times |
Pennzoil-Pennzoil
Triumphs Again |
S-4 |
3/8 |
P-4 |
Ad |
Click |
| Sun+5 |
June 12 |
San Francisco Chronicle |
Chrysler-Coast
to Coast and back Again! |
A-5 |
Full |
Full |
Ad |
Click |
| Sun+5 |
June 12 |
San Francisco Chronicle |
Round Trip Record Set By Miller |
A-10 |
1-5 |
25" |
3 |
Click |
| Sun+5 |
June 12 |
San Francisco Chronicle |
Pennzoil-All
Transcontinental Records Shattered |
A-4 |
1/4 |
P-4 |
Ad |
Click |
| Sun+5 |
June 12 |
San Francisco Examiner |
Journey East, Return Made in
Seven Days |
A-5 |
1 |
20" |
2 |
Click |
| Sun+5 |
June 12 |
San Francisco Examiner |
Ilco-Ryan-Lite-Miller..amazing
round trip |
A-10 |
3/8 |
P-4 |
Ad |
Click |
| Sun+5 |
June 12 |
San Francisco Examiner |
Chrysler-Coast
to Coast and back Again! |
A-11 |
3/8 |
P-4 |
Ad |
Click |
| Sun+5 |
June 12 |
Los Angeles Times |
Double Cross Continent Auto
Record... |
VI-5 |
1-2 |
10" |
2 |
Click |
| Sun+5 |
June 12 |
Los Angeles Times |
Ilco-Ryan-Lite-Miller..amazing
round trip |
VI-13 |
1/4 |
P-2 |
Ad |
Click |
| Sun+5 |
June 12 |
Los Angeles Times |
Chrysler-Coast
to Coast and back Again! |
VI-9 |
Full |
Full |
Ad |
Click |
| Sun+12 |
June 19 |
Los Angeles Times |
Chrysler-All
America Applaudes...Chrysler |
XX-5 |
Full |
Full |
Ad |
Click |
Italic
Type Denotes Advertiser
Click on Hyperlink to View Image
|
1931--L.
B. Miller-S.F to N.Y and Back Again!--1931
6287 Miles-132 Hours and 9 Minutes |
| DAY |
CHECK POINT |
WEEK |
DATE |
CITY |
STATE |
TIME |
| 0 |
1-Start |
Tuesday |
August 4, 1931 |
Berkeley Pier |
CA |
5 am PST |
| 0 |
2-East |
Tuesday |
August 4, 1931 |
Reno |
NV |
9:30 am PST |
| 1 |
3-East |
Wednesday |
August 5,1931 |
Rock Springs
|
WY |
3:00 am MST |
| 1 |
4-East |
Wednesday |
August 5,1931 |
Columbus
|
NB |
6:10 pm CST |
| 2 |
5-East |
Thursday |
August 6,1931 |
Fort Wayne
|
IN |
9:45 am CST |
| 3 |
6-Finish |
Friday |
August 7, 1931 |
Trottenvile Ferry |
NY |
1:35 am EST |
| 3 |
7-Start |
Friday |
August 7, 1931 |
Trottenvile Ferry |
NY |
2:45 am EST |
| 3 |
8-West |
Friday |
August 7, 1931 |
Chicago Heights |
IL |
8:00 am CST |
| 4 |
9-West |
Saturday |
August 8, 1931 |
North Platte |
NB |
12:33 pm CST |
| 5 |
10-West |
Sunday |
August 9, 1931 |
Salt Lake City |
UT |
1:43 am MST |
| 5 |
11-West |
Sunday |
August 9, 1931 |
Reno |
NV |
11:40 am PST |
| 5 |
12-Finish |
Sunday |
August 9, 1931 |
Berkeley Pier |
CA |
5:04 pm PST |
| DAY |
DATE |
PAPER |
HEAD LINE |
PAGE |
COL |
SIZE |
PHOTO |
VIEW |
| Mon+1 |
August 10 |
San Francisco Chronicle |
East-West Round Trip Record |
5 |
6-7 |
8" |
No |
Click |
| Sat+6 |
August 15 |
Oakland Post-Enquirer |
Sets Cross Country Record |
12 |
1-3 |
8" |
1 |
Click |
| Sun+7 |
August 15 |
Oakland Tribune |
New York-Back in 5 1/2 Days |
6-M |
2-3 |
8" |
1 |
Click |
| Sun+7 |
August 16 |
New York Times |
New York-San Francisco Record |
10-6 |
4 |
3" |
No |
Click |
| Sun+7 |
August 16 |
San Francisco Chronicle |
Dealers Hail U.S. Record as
Unbeatable |
A-3 |
1 |
20" |
2 |
Click |
| Sun+7 |
August 16 |
San Francisco Examiner |
Run to N.Y. Sets Record |
A-2 |
5 |
7" |
No |
Click |
| Sun+14 |
August 23 |
Oakland Tribune |
New York-Back in 5 1/2 Days |
A-2 |
2-3 |
12" |
No |
Click |
| Sun+56 |
October 4 |
New York Times |
Plymouth Dealers Luncheon |
IX-6 |
3 |
3" |
No |
Click |
| Sun+62 |
October 10 |
Saturday Evening Post |
Plymouth-Record
Shattered |
34 |
FULL |
FULL |
AD |
Click |
| DATE |
PUBLISHER |
TITLE |
STYLE |
SIZE |
COLOR |
PAGES |
PHOTOS |
PDF |
VIEW |
| 1931 |
Plymouth |
1140 Miles A Day...for 5 1/2
Days... |
Booklet |
5 1/2 x 8 1/2 |
*** |
4 |
3 |
2.0 Mb |
Click
|
Plymouth
Bulletin Articles
|
| ISSUE |
DATE |
TITLE |
WRITER |
PAGES |
SIZE |
PHOTOS |
PDF |
VIEW |
| 40 |
July-August 1966 |
The Flying Lady |
Earl Pribak |
10-21,24 |
78" |
3 |
5.9 Mb |
Click
|
| 152 |
May-June 1985 |
The Flying Lady |
Earl Pribak |
26-33 |
*** |
9 |
2.8 Mb |
Click
|
| 250 |
Sept-Oct 2001 |
The Flying Lady |
Donald Wood |
44-49 |
72" |
7 |
*** |
Click |
1926-San
Francisco to Portland-1926
|
| DAY |
DATE |
PAPER |
HEAD LINE |
PAGE |
COL |
SIZE |
PHOTO |
VIEW |
| Sun |
March 28 |
San Francisco Chronicle |
Cross-Nation Driver Set Up New
Mark |
A-7 |
3 |
12" |
No |
Click |
| Sun |
March 28 |
San Francisco Examiner |
New Elapsed Time Record, S.F. to
Portland, Is Made |
A-9 |
6-7 |
8" |
No |
Click |
| Sun |
April 4 |
San Francisco Chronicle |
Cross Road Run Record is Shattered |
A-9 |
1 |
10" |
1 |
Click |
| Sun |
April 4 |
San Francisco Chronicle |
Wills Sainte Claire-Amazing
Endurance...Quality |
6 |
1/4 |
P-3 |
Ad |
Click |
| Sun |
April 4 |
Oakland Tribune |
Wills Sainte Claire-Amazing
Endurance...Quality |
A-9 |
1/4 |
P-4 |
Ad |
Click |
| Sun |
April 11 |
New York Times |
Wills Sainte Claire-Amazing
Endurance...Quality |
10-14 |
1/4 |
P-3 |
No |
Click |
Additional
Related Press Coverage
|
| DAY |
DATE |
PAPER |
HEAD LINE |
PAGE |
COL |
SIZE |
PHOTO |
VIEW |
| Sun |
April 11, 1926 |
New York Times |
Wills Sainte Claire-Amazing
Endurance...Quality |
10-14 |
1/4 |
P-3 |
No |
Click |
| Sun |
Sept 11, 1927 |
New York Times |
Studebaker-Studebaker
Sets Coast to Coast Record |
10-11 |
1/2 |
P-4 |
Ad |
Click |
| Fri |
Jan 20, 1928 |
New York Times |
Indiana Light Co.-Made
Ilco-Ryan-Lites |
28 |
1/8 |
P-4 |
Ad |
Click |
| Sun |
July 6, 1930 |
New York Times |
Dodge in Mileage Marathon |
10-5 |
5 |
3" |
No |
Click |
| Sun |
Jan 10, 1932 |
New York Times |
Special Exhibits-L.B. Miller
Plymouth Car |
10-1 |
6 |
2" |
No |
Click |
| Sun |
Aug 28, 1932 |
New York Times |
Louis B. Miller Cross-Country
Driver... |
10-6 |
2 |
2" |
No |
Click |
| Mon |
May 31, 1954 |
San Francisco Chronicle |
Obit-Louis B. Miller |
*** |
*** |
1" |
No |
Click |
| Mon |
May 31, 1954 |
San Francisco Examiner |
Obit-Louis B. Miller |
15 |
6 |
1" |
No |
Click |
Louis
B. Miller Related-Web Links
|
| NUMBER |
TITLE |
SITE |
VIEW |
| 1 |
"Wills Sainte Claire" |
Wills Sainte Claire Museum |
Click
|
| 2 |
"2003 Plymouth Coast to Coast
Tour" |
Plymouth Bulletin |
Click
|
Click
on Hyperlink to View Image
|
Special Thanks is
Given to
Terry Ernest, Director
Wills Sainte Claire Museum
and
Jim Benjaminson
Edward Peterson
Joe Suminski
Andrew Weimann
of the Plymouth Owners Club
Designed By: The Starman
You
are Visitor #
Updated
April 13, 2003
Since August 6, 2002
