Selects: The First Road Trip

Horatio Nelson Jackson completed the first transcontinental automobile trip across the United States in 1903, a feat accomplished with his mechanic Sewell Crocker and a pit bull named Bud. Driving a 1903 Winton touring car, the trio navigated treacherous, unmapped terrain, frequent mechanical failures, and a lack of established infrastructure, such as gas stations or paved roads. Jackson, motivated by a $50 wager to prove the viability of automobiles, successfully reached New York from San Francisco in 63 days. The journey, which cost approximately $8,000 at the time, relied on constant improvisation, including the use of a block and tackle for vehicle recovery and local assistance for navigation. This historic drive challenged the prevailing reliance on trains and horses, setting a precedent for future long-distance travel and demonstrating the potential of the burgeoning automotive industry.