July 7, 1919 — Three days after the Fourth of July, at the Ellipse fronting the White House, a convoy of 81 vehicles lined up, facing west. Flags flew. Bands played. The Secretary of War hailed “the beginning of a new era.” Finally, at 11:15 a.m., the convoy was ready for its perilous, uncharted journey. The destination — San Francisco.
For the previous half century, trains traveled coast-to-coast in just a week. But by truck, the 3,200-mile slog was expected to take. . . two months. With a roar of engines, cheers from the crowd, and smiles from the 250 volunteer adventurers, the Transcontinental Motor Convoy set out across America.
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