From the very beginning,
American Presidents have led the way.

Woodrow Wilson was the first member
of the Lincoln Highway Association
and planted one of the first trees along the Highway in 1914.

Seven years later Warren G. Harding became its
most involved and interested supporter.

In 1916 as a US Senator,
he led a hometown delegation
to Lincoln Highway Headquarters in Detroit to protest
the Lincoln's route change out of Marion.

Four years later in December of 1920,
the Lincoln Highway was moved from Galion
and Carl Gugler, a local attorney formed
The Harding Highway Association
as a Memorial to Ohio's favorite son
and the newly elected President.

As President he supported the Memorial Tree Program,
and dedicated both The Lincoln Memorial & Zero Milestone.

In addition,
he maintained a watchful eye
over the Secretary of Agriculture's decision
concerning the Utah Controversy.

After his untimely death in San Francisco in 1923,
the Boys Scouts planted the tree he was scheduled to plant
at the End of the Lincoln Highway in Lincoln Park
and named it The Harding Memorial Tree.

In 1924 the Coolidge-Dawes Lincoln Tour
was organized by the Hometown Coolidge Club
and was billed as the largest automobile caravan in history
with over 100,000 autos taking part.

President Ronald Reagan grew up just a few
blocks from The Lincoln Highway in Dixon, Illinois
and credits many of his leadership skills to his
early days growing up on the Lincoln.

He was the only President to send a wreath
for the Museum Opening in April of 2000.

President Eishenhower's trip across the Nation
on the First Army Transcontinental Motor Transport Convoy
in 1919 is the most dramatic and well publicized
participation of all the Presidents.

This experience is widely credited for his support
and signing of the Federal Highway Act in 1956.

President Clinton made several significant
contributions to the evolution of the Lincoln Highway
and set the stage for it becoming the centerpiece of
The Lincoln Bicentennial Celebration.

In January of 1999,
his State of the Union Address
was the catalyst for
"The Lincoln Highway Comes of Age"
A Nationwide Millennium Project
and the founding of
The Lincoln Highway National Museum & Archives.

In April of 2000,
The White House Millennium Council
designated The Lincoln Highway a
Millennium Trail

And finally,
on December 23, 2000
the President Signed
The Lincoln Highway Study Act.

Let us hope President Bush
will soon take his place and lead us as
The Lincoln Highway
becomes not only
"The World's Greatest Memorial"
but,
"Sacred Ground"
as humanity continues
the march toward perfection.

President Wilson Takes the Lead First 100 Years

The Lincoln Highway "The World's Greatest Memorial" "Sacred Ground"

President Clinton Sets the Stage Second 100 Years

1913-American Presidents Lead the Way-2003

Woodrow Wilson 28th President 2 Terms 1913-1921 Born: December 28, 1856 in Staunton, Virginia Died: February 3, 1924 in Washington, DC Comments: President Wilson was the first member of The Lincoln Highway Association. Click for White House Biography

First Member of LHA Year: 1913 Source: The Lincoln Highway National Museum & Archives Galion, Ohio Comments: President Wilson planted one of the first trees on the Lincoln Highway in Princeton, NJ in April of 1914. The Lincoln Air Way, a transcontinental Air Route was renamed the Wilson Airway in 1917 in Honor President Wilson.

Warren G. Harding 29th President Died in Office 1921-1923 Born: November 2, 1856 in Blooming Grove, Ohio Died: August 2, 1923 in San Francisco, California Comments: President Harding was a big supporter of The Lincoln Highway and the only other President to have a Transcontinental Highway named after him. Click for White House Biography

Dedicated The Zero Milestone Year: 1923 Source: The Library of Congress Washington, DC Comments: President Harding and his wife were big supporters of the Memorial Tree Program. He dedicated both the Lincoln Memorial and the Zero Milestone. After his death in San Francisco, the Boy Scouts planted the tree he was scheduled to plant at the End of the Lincoln Highway and named it The Harding Memorial Tree.

Calvin Coolidge 30th President Finished Harding Term Plus His Own 1923-1929 Born: July 4, 1872 in Plymouth, Vermont Died: January 5, 1933 in Northhampton, Mass. Comments: After the death of his son, President Coolidge didn't feel much like Campaigning, so a group of his friends organized the Home Town Coolidge Club and set out across the Nation to do it for him. The Coolidge-Dawes Lincoln Tour lasted over 2 months and started at the Coolidge Homestead in Plymouth, VT and ended near Seattle, Washington after traveling across the Continent on The Lincoln Highway. Click for White House Biography

Coolidge-Dawes Lincoln Tour Year: 1924 Source: The Utah State Historical Society Salt Lake City, Utah Comments: The Lincoln Tour was co-sponsored by The Republican National Committee and was billed as the largest automobile caravan in history. With caravans as long as 10 miles at times, over 100,000 cars took part during the 4000 mile journey. The highlight of the Tour was a call for all Lincoln Voters to step forward and Sign the "Book of Lincoln" which was later presented to President Coolidge.

Dwight D. Eisenhower 34th President 2 Terms 1953-1961 Born: October 14, 1890 in Denison, Texas Died: March 28, 1969 in Washington, DC Comments: President Eishenhower's trip across the Nation on the First Army Transcontinental Motor Transport Convoy in 1919 is the most dramatic of all the Presidents. Click for White House Biography

Observer on Motor Transport Convoy Year: 1919 Source: Captain William Greany Scrapbook Comments: President Eisenhower wrote about his experiences traveling on the Lincoln Highway in his book "At Ease". The Eisenhower Library in Abilene, Kansas has a large collection of his photographs and other material from the trip. Click for Eisenhower LIbrary

Ronald Reagan 40th President 2 Terms 1981-1989 Born: February 6, 1911 in Tampico, Illinois Comments: President Reagan lived a few blocks from The Lincoln Highway in Dixon, Illinois from 1920-1924. Dixon is home to the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Bridge and the Blackhawk Wars Lincoln Statue. Click for White House Biography

Grew up in Dixon, Illinois Years: 1920-1924 Source: The Lincoln Highway National Museum & Archives Galion, Ohio Comments: President Reagan writes about growing up in Dixon and his experiences on the Lincoln Highway in his autobiography, "An American Life". While a life guard in Dixon he is credited with saving 77 lives. Click to Visit Reagan Home

Bill Clinton 42th President 2 Terms 1993-2001 Born: August 19, 1946 in Hope, Arkansas Comments: President Clinton's State of the Union Address in 1999 was the Catalyst for "The Lincoln Highway Comes of Age" A Nationwide Millennium Project. The White House Millennium Council provided the framework for the Lincoln Highway being designated a Millennium Trail. Click for White House Biography

Signed Lincoln Highway Study Act Year: 2000 Source: Unites States Congress Washington, DC Comments: In October of 2000, Congress passes the Lincoln Highway Study Act. Ohio Congressman Mike Oxley co-sponsors the legislation and mentions the Museum during the House debate. On December 23rd President Clinton signs it into law which mandates the current National Park Service Study. Click to Read Full Text

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