Auto Trails coming to a centennial

[mcdonaat]

I'm deeply engaged in talks with the Louisiana DOTD and Louisiana Office of Culture and Tourism about signing the old auto trails in my home state as scenic roads, encouraging travelers to get off the Interstate and visit these small towns. It would be, in a sense, free advertising in the form of brochures and maps, and the towns could donate to the Office of Tourism to have their town signed as an auto trail, in the same sense of towns donating to the auto trail organizations. It's a 21st-century take on a mid-1910's idea, and I think it would really fly well. The only problem, though, is that if it's JUST Louisiana and not other states in the country, the idea could be seen as silly. I've already got support from the Old Spanish Trail, and I'm awaiting support from the Jefferson Highway Association as well. Any ideas from across the country? I would love to see the old bridges that the highways still use, and even telephone poles, with the original auto trail insignia as a trailblazer!

[mgk920]

The Yellowstone Trail http://www.yellowstonetrail.org is also celebrating its 100th this year.  It is marked in various parts of the upper midwest, too.

The historic route of the Lincoln Highway is well-marked across Illinois, too.

Mike

[Hot Rod Hootenanny]

Ohio signs the National Road and Lincoln Highway

[Takumi]

Some of the auto trails are legislatively defined in Virginia. The Midland Trail and Jefferson Davis Highway are both signed in some places; many counties US 1 traverses use the latter as the local name of the road.

[mcdonaat]

I wish as much pride was taken here as it is in the Midwest and northern states. If it wasn't for our state highway renumbering in 1955, you could still drive along auto trails using State Routes 1, 2, and 4 (JH, OST, and DOH).

I'll check and see if they were legislatively defined...might be tough since our Constitution was rewritten in the 1970s. Could anyone along the US 71 corridor vouch for their states marking the Jefferson Highway?

[cpzilliacus]

Some of the auto trails are legislatively defined in Virginia. The Midland Trail and Jefferson Davis Highway are both signed in some places; many counties US 1 traverses use the latter as the local name of the road.

Though I have always found it curious that Fairfax County calls its portion of U.S. 1 Richmond Highway (which I don't believe is used along any other part of U.S. 1 in Virginia - most of the way from Washington to Richmond, it is indeed called Jefferson Davis Highway).

[bjrush]

Tell them Arkansas just did this, legislation passed in 2009 IIRC

Here's the list:
http://www.arkansasheritagetrails.com/

[BamaZeus]

Trail of Tears is also posted along US 72 in northern AL.

[mgk920]

That is more of a 'historic/heritage corridor', not a true early 20th century 'auto trail'.  The auto trails were privately set up as a way of promoting intercity automobile travel on public roads at a time when most roads outside of cities were barely-passable tracks, if even that, and otherwise do what the state highway departments now do.

Mike

[Takumi]

Though I have always found it curious that Fairfax County calls its portion of U.S. 1 Richmond Highway (which I don't believe is used along any other part of U.S. 1 in Virginia - most of the way from Washington to Richmond, it is indeed called Jefferson Davis Highway).

Similarly, Hanover County calls it Washington Highway. It picks up the Jefferson Davis Highway name again in Caroline County. Henrico County calls it Brook Road, and it has multiple names in Richmond, of course. Chesterfield is the southernmost county where it is locally known as the Jefferson Davis.

[Urban Prairie Schooner]

I wish as much pride was taken here as it is in the Midwest and northern states. If it wasn't for our state highway renumbering in 1955, you could still drive along auto trails using State Routes 1, 2, and 4 (JH, OST, and DOH).

I'll check and see if they were legislatively defined...might be tough since our Constitution was rewritten in the 1970s. Could anyone along the US 71 corridor vouch for their states marking the Jefferson Highway?

The original state routes were defined in the original 1921 legislation (and later) but only by the termini and cities and towns served between them (similar to the original US Highway definitions). However, annual reports from the 1920s and 1930s do explicitly make the connection between certain state highways and their auto trail names.

[NE2]

The auto trails were a sort of second generation naming. Richmond Highway and such were already in use when Jeff Davis Highway came along, so locals kept the old name.

The Great River Road is probably the oldest "modern" auto trail (1938) to still be signed.

[rawmustard]

I've always said a reading of the 1915 West Michigan Pike directory is a must for any history (roads or otherwise) buff. Next year will mark the centenary of the first West Michigan Pike tour, considering 1915 was the third annual tour (mentioned in the guide on page 56).

[agentsteel53]

The auto trails were a sort of second generation naming.

what would you consider to be the first generation naming?  anything from Boston Post Road (1730s? earlier?) to Santa Fe Trail (1850s or so)?  or, more generally, any trail which predates the automobile?

[NE2]

The auto trails were a sort of second generation naming.

what would you consider to be the first generation naming?  anything from Boston Post Road (1730s? earlier?) to Santa Fe Trail (1850s or so)?  or, more generally, any trail which predates the automobile?

Anything before the auto trails

There are probably no well-defined generations.

[mcdonaat]

I wish as much pride was taken here as it is in the Midwest and northern states. If it wasn't for our state highway renumbering in 1955, you could still drive along auto trails using State Routes 1, 2, and 4 (JH, OST, and DOH).

I'll check and see if they were legislatively defined...might be tough since our Constitution was rewritten in the 1970s. Could anyone along the US 71 corridor vouch for their states marking the Jefferson Highway?

The original state routes were defined in the original 1921 legislation (and later) but only by the termini and cities and towns served between them (similar to the original US Highway definitions). However, annual reports from the 1920s and 1930s do explicitly make the connection between certain state highways and their auto trail names.

I have a few highway maps to refer to for the original state routes, and am actually working on updating Wikipedia to show at least the first 50 state routes through Louisiana. As I was stuck in traffic, I thought to myself, "I'm on the original Highway 1 and 7 in Louisiana!" Then I realized how much Jefferson Highway through Baton Rouge sucks when you're stuck in gridlock.

I know of only three state-recognized auto trails in Louisiana... Jefferson Highway, Old Spanish Trail, and Dixie Overland Highway. I don't really consider the Jefferson Davis as a true auto trail, since it seemed to loop around the entire country. The true auto trails went between major cities in a line... the JD went along each coast.

[cpzilliacus]

Anyone ever recall seeing a (relatively recent - as in 1950's or 1960's) auto trail designation for U.S. 301 as the Miss Universe Highway?

[Alps]

Anyone ever recall seeing a (relatively recent - as in 1950's or 1960's) auto trail designation for U.S. 301 as the Miss Universe Highway?

Part of US 130 is the Jersey Girls State Highway.

[cpzilliacus]

Anyone ever recall seeing a (relatively recent - as in 1950's or 1960's) auto trail designation for U.S. 301 as the Miss Universe Highway?

Part of US 130 is the Jersey Girls State Highway.

When are we going to get an auto trail in honor of "Jersey Shore?"

Or is that the Garden State Parkway?

[mcdonaat]

I think what you guys are referring to in the sense of the Jersey Girls State Highway or Miss Universe Highway are named roads, not auto trails. The key difference is that an auto trail, an example being my own local Jefferson Highway, was built as the Jefferson Highway, and created by the Jefferson Highway Association, which exists still to this day. It was named the Jefferson Highway before any numbered route followed it. Later on, in Louisiana, the JH became State Route No. 1. The Jersey Girls State Highway was designated after US 130 was already built.

At least in my opinion, the highways formed in the 1910's through the 1930's are auto trails. Any route marked after that, including turnpikes, expressways, parkways, etc, are just named roads. The key difference is that the auto trails were member-supported, while later roads are federally-supported, or state-funded.