AUSTIN - Long before the Internet, the Lincoln Highway began connecting us 100 years ago when it became America's first paved coast-to-coast road for the automobile paralleling many parts of the Pony Express route.
Nevada's section of Lincoln Highway is located along Highway 50, running east to west through the heart of the state known as America's Loneliest Road in Nevada's Pony Express Territory.
To celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the Lincoln Highway, the communities along Nevada's historic Highway 50 will reward travelers with complimentary commemorative coffee mugs during the month of June.
The Austin mugs are available at the Austin Courthouse/Austin Chamber, 122 Main St. The hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - noon and 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
"Each of our six historic towns and one national park visitor's center will offer a special commemorative coffee mug toward a collectible set," said Nevada's Pony Express Territory president, Rick Gray.
This area of Nevada is where the Pony Express riders once galloped along its main trail (now Highway 50) through Dayton, Fallon, Fernley, Austin, Eureka, Ely and Great Basin National Park.
"Each coffee mug will feature an iconic photo of that town specific to the Lincoln Highway," Gray said.
The Lincoln Highway Association has set two official tours to start June 22 in San Francisco and New York. The West tour route from San Francisco will come through Nevada's Pony Express Territory on Highway 50 to Fallon overnight on June 24 with a second overnight in Ely on June 25.
"We look forward to sharing an important cultural heritage experience with travelers," said Gray.
The communities of Fallon, Austin, Eureka and Ely are busy planning tour dedication events.
The 100-year-old Lincoln Highway passes across an estimated 14 states, 128 counties, and 700 communities to total approximately 5,869 miles.
It's America's first national memorial to President Abraham Lincoln, predating the 1922 dedication of the Lincoln Memorial in Wash., D.C., by nine years.
At the 25th anniversary, road founder Carl Fisher said, "I hope this anniversary observance makes millions of people realize how vital roads are to our national welfare, to economic programs, and to our national defense."
Famous supporters who helped fund the Lincoln Highway include Theodore Roosevelt and Thomas Edison, both friends of Fisher. Various authors and artists including Emily Post have traveled along this historic route.
The adventurous towns along America's Loneliest Road will host events and festivities in addition to offering a complimentary commemorative mug to celebrate Lincoln Highway's 100 years. Hurry while supplies last and collect all seven of the coffee mugs to complete your Nevada Lincoln Highway experience.
For updates and more information, visit PonyExpressNevada.com.
"June will certainly be a month to remember in Nevada's Pony Express Territory," said Gray.
Lincoln Highway mug locations: Dayton, the Dayton Chamber, 15 Main St., (775) 246-7909, hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. or Dayton Museum, 485 Shady Lane, (775) 246-5543; Fernley, Fernley Chamber of Commerce, 70 N. West Street., (775) 575-4459, hours: Monday through Friday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Fallon, Fallon Convention Center, 100 Campus Way, (775) 423-4556, hours: Monday through Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.; Austin, Austin Courthouse/Austin Chamber
122 Main St., hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - noon and 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.; Eureka, Eureka Opera House, 31 S. Main St., (775) 237-6006, hours: Monday through Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Ely, White Pine Public Museum, 2000 Aultman St., (775) 289-4710, hours: Wednesday through Sunday, noon - 5 p.m.; Great Basin National Park, Great Basin Heritage Area Partnership, 87 Baker Avenue, Baker, (775) 234-7171, hours: Monday through Friday 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
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