U.S. Highway 50 through Nevada has become celebrated as “America’s Loneliest Road.” How did it get this way, and why does it hold such fascination for today’s travelers? The story of U.S. 50 begins with the Overland Trail and the Lincoln Highway, the first transcontinental road. Conceived in 1913, the Lincoln followed the trail through mountain passes and across lonely vistas, presenting a challenge for early travelers crossing the Silver State in less-than-reliable early Fords, REOs and Hupmobiles. Even before the highway came to Nevada, the towns along its route were in decline, making it even lonelier. Once booming mining towns like Hamilton, Eureka, and Austin were in the process of becoming little more than sleepy ghost towns. The spaces in between were all but empty, and some, like the Fallon Flats, were virtually impassable, creating a challenge for road builders that was only overcome with great difficulty. The Lincoln Highway covered more miles in Nevada than in any other state, passing through places like Ely, Fallon, Dayton, and Carson City. Its route changed more than once. Its legacy was U.S. 50, which continues to stir the imagination and call to road-trip adventurers today. This lecture will be presented in person and virtually via Zoom Meeting. Admission is $10 for adults. Members and children 17 and under are free.
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