Van Buren sisters facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Augusta Van Buren
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| Born | 26 Mar 1884 New York, USA
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| Died | 30 Sep 1959 Middletown,New Castle County,Delaware,United States
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| Other names | Augusta Roberts |
| Occupation | Librarian, pilot |
| Known for | Motorcycling across the USA |
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Adeline Van Buren
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| Born | 26 Jul 1889 New York, USA
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| Died | 1949 |
| Other names | Adeline Tully |
| Occupation | Lawyer, educator |
| Known for | Motorcycling across the USA |
Augusta Van Buren and Adeline Van Buren were sisters who loved adventure. In 1916, they became famous for riding their own motorcycles across the entire United States. They traveled 5,500 miles in just 60 days! They were the second and third women to ever complete such a journey on motorcycles. Before them, Effie Hotchkiss rode from Brooklyn to San Francisco with her mother, Avis, in a sidecar.
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Their Historic Motorcycle Ride
Augusta, who was 32, and Adeline, 27, were known as Gussie and Addie. They were descendants of Martin Van Buren, who was the eighth President of the United States. In 1916, America was getting ready to join World War I. The sisters wanted to show that women could ride motorcycles just as well as men. They hoped this would prove women could be military dispatch riders. These riders carried important messages, which would free up men for other tasks in the war.
They also wanted to help women get the right to vote. At that time, women did not have the same voting rights as men. To make their point, the sisters wore military-style leggings and leather riding pants. This was very unusual for women to wear in public back then.
Starting Their Journey
On July 4, 1916, the sisters began their trip from the Sheepshead Bay Race Track in Brooklyn, New York. They rode powerful 1,000 cc Indian Power Plus motorcycles. These bikes were top-of-the-line and had gas headlights.
Challenges Along the Way
The sisters faced many challenges during their ride. They dealt with bad roads, heavy rain, and thick mud. They also had to cross natural barriers like the Rocky Mountains.
They often faced problems with local police who did not like their choice of clothing. They were arrested many times, not for speeding, but for wearing men's clothes. In Colorado, they made history again. They became the first women to reach the 14,109-foot summit of Pikes Peak in any motor vehicle.
Later, they got lost in the desert about 100 miles west of Salt Lake City. Their water ran out, but luckily, a prospector found them and saved them. They finished their amazing journey in Los Angeles on September 8. They even rode across the border to Tijuana in Mexico.
After the Ride
Even though they completed their difficult journey, the sisters' applications to become military dispatch riders were turned down. Some magazines and newspapers did not praise the sisters. Instead, they focused on the motorcycles or said the trip was just a "vacation." One newspaper even said the sisters used the war effort as an excuse to show off their "feminine counters" in their outfits.
Beyond question the Van Burens have made one of the most noteworthy trips ever accomplished, chiefly because they have proven that the motorcycle is a universal vehicle.
—Paul Derkum, Indian Motorcycle Company
Their Lives After the Ride
After their historic ride, both sisters continued to live interesting lives. Adeline kept working as an educator. She also earned a law degree from New York University. Augusta became a pilot, flying airplanes. She joined a famous group for women pilots called the Ninety-Nines. This group was started by Amelia Earhart.
Remembering Their Achievement
The amazing journey of Augusta and Adeline Van Buren has been remembered and celebrated over the years.
In 1988, four women from the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) honored the sisters. They did a "Van Buren Transcon" ride to raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. This event also helped improve how people viewed motorcycling.
The sisters were recognized for their bravery and skill. In 2002, they were added to the AMA's Motorcycle Hall of Fame. The next year, in 2003, they were also inducted into the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame.
In 2006, Bob Van Buren, who was the sisters' great-nephew, and his wife, Rhonda, rode the same route. They traveled from New York City to San Francisco on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Their trip also raised money for a good cause. It supported the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. This fund helps build hospitals for injured service members.
See also
In Spanish: Hermanas Van Buren para niños
