One hundred years ago, during the summer of 1909, Alice Huyler Ramsey of Hackensack, New Jersey, traveled through the Borough of Gettysburg. She was in the process of making history in her new Maxwell automobile. Having departed New York City in her car, she and a female companion were determined to drive to San Francisco in the first cross country trip made by a woman. Alice succeeded, arriving in California fifty-nine days after leaving New York across muddy trails, partially constructed dirt roads, and over mountains – sometimes pushing her Maxwell out of the muck and over rocks and debris to make the journey.

A similar trip had been accomplished in 1903 by H. Nelson Jackson and his wife."

Before her death in 1975, Alice Ramsey made the cross-country trip at least thirty more times.

The journey sparked national interest in cross-country travel. The following year, in 1910, plans were made to construct the first paved national highway, named after our 16th President. Today, Rt. 30, or The Lincoln Highway, is still a popular thoroughfare, and; following some of Miss Ramsey’s route a century ago, takes travelers through the historic town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.