Comments: Originally I thought this sign was not an original,
but a more modern copy since it wasn't Metal and Enamel.
It is quite crude with stencils or stencil like letters used.
The photo on the right shows this style in use on August 25, 1915.
Further research reveals these signs were provided by the
California State Auto Assoc. and used as early as March 1914
by The Oakland Commercial Club on a signing trip to Lake Tahoe. This is the only known example of this style.

Comments: This sign came to the CSAA in a large collection of
vintage road signs. It is the only known sample of this
style and its date was unknown until I remembered the
photo at the right. This clearly dates it as August 1915
and quite possibly is the sign on the right. What makes
it unique is the stamped copper and painted overlay.

Comments: This is the sign H.C. Osterman and E. J. Philips
show upon arriving at the PPIE August 25, 1915. It was declared
Lincoln Highway Day and a grand and glorious celebration followed
with the special presentation of a Gold PPIE Medal.
Never thought much about it being embossed until I saw the one
on the left. Clearly they are the same style if not the same sign.

Comments: On August 26, 1915 Lincoln Highway Officials planted
the American Flag and claimed Lincoln Park as the End of the
Lincoln Highway. Soon there after on September 14, 1915 a
more permanent sign was erected during an elaborate dedication
ceremony in conjunction with the CSAA that featured,
Miss Helen Hughson as the California Lincoln Highway Girl.
Speeches were made, roses were thrown and the sign was erected.
The ceremony was at 2 pm with speeches one minute or 250 words.
A short film of the ceremony is available on the web.
Click Here to View
The Diamond on the top is the CSAA Symbol.
The marker was to be temporary until a more suitable granite
marker could be designed.

Comments: This picture shows Miss Grace Jarbou linking
The Exposition Trail and the Lincoln Highway.
Notice the sign is different than the one erected less
than a year earlier. The ceremony welded together
San Francisco and San Diego as Exposition Cities.
While several attempts have been made over the years to
erect a Lincoln Statue or other suitable granite marker at
the end of the Lincoln Highway the only one to ever make it past
the talking stage or drawing board was the 3400 Concrete Markers
erected all across the country in 1928 by the Boy Scouts.

Comments: These Lincoln Highway Signs are the same style,
but one has several mounting holes and the other does not.
The Pioneer Trail Signs were discovered near Dayton, Nevada
in the mid-1990's. There were 14 in all...all neatly wrapped
in the original box. It is by far the largest cache of original
Lincoln Highway Signs ever found. They were made in Los Angeles.

Comments: This is one of the curved Lincoln Highway Signs
put up around 1916. Not sure how long they were in
use, but there were similar ones used in Crestline, Ohio
in the mid 1920's.

Comments: These Lincoln Highway Signs were donated and
put up by the Automobile Club of Southern California.
They were used from Salt Lake City to Omaha and
placed by special Sign Crews outfitted by the ACSC.
This is the most I've ever seen in one place.

Comments: Here's one of the ACSC Sign Crews hard at work
near Salt Lake City. This image was taken on July 10, 1918
and is from the Shipler Photo Collection. The Utah Historical
Society is located in the old Rio Grande Railroad Station.

Comments: This 1928 Lincoln Highway Marker was originally
set somewhere in Bucyrus and moved to the Square at a later date.
3400 markers were placed across the Continent by the Boy Scouts
on September 1, 1928 as a Memorial to Abraham Lincoln.
The copper penny was made by Whitehead & Hoag of Newark, NJ.

Comments: This photo shows Eagle Scout Charles Blum
placing the Western Terminus Marker in Lincoln Park
at the End of the Lincoln Highway. While most of the
3400 markers were placed on September 1, 1928 there
is no evidence to indicate when this one was set.

Comments: These Lincoln Highway Feeder Signs were designed
by The Lincoln Highway Association for use on all feeder routes.
One such route was Washington DC to Gettysburg.
This is the only illustration I've ever seen and to my knowledge
there are no surviving examples.

Comments: These Lincoln Highway Feeder Signs were designed
by Elmer C. Jenson, Chairman of the Lincoln Highway Committee
of the American Institute of Architects.
These are the first signs to deviate from the standard rectangle,
to my knowledge there is no evidence they were ever used.

Comments: This photo shows the first ornamental marker
to be placed on the Lincoln Highway in Pittsburgh, PA.
According to Brian Butko's book, The Lincoln Highway-
Pennsylvania Travelers Guide the City's Art Commission
protested. The Good Roads Committe countered the design
was approved by the LHA and considered the most attractive
in the country. I'm not aware of any other photos of this marker.

Comments: According to Mr. Butko, a contest ensued with nine
entries being submitted including one by renown architect
Frederick Scheiber. This marker was the winner but apparently
was never used. His source, The Carnegie-Mellon Univeristy
Architecture Archives in Pittsburgh.

Comments: The Glad Hand Club was formed in Belle Plaine,
Iowa in the mid 20's to serve the Lincoln Highway Tourist.
The signs were secured to a members place of business
and guaranteed travelers satisfaction with every transaction.
This is the only known sign.

Comments: This Glad Hand Club brochure was produced in
1926. It includes a mission statement as well as
membership list, map and a short tour guide of Iowa.
Click Here to View the Full Brochure-1.9 Mb
Headquarters was in Belle Plain at the Herring Hotel.