Yellowstone Trail facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Route information | |
| Length | 3,719 mi (5,985 km)
According to the 1920 Yellowstone Trail Route Guide.
|
| History | The Yellowstone Trail was established on May 23, 1912. The Yellowstone Trail Association was incorporated in 1918, and ceased in 1930. |
| Major junctions | |
| West end | Seattle, Washington |
| East end | Plymouth, Massachusetts |
| Highway system | |
| Auto Trails
|
|
Imagine a time when cars were new, but good roads were hard to find! The Yellowstone Trail was one of the very first long-distance roads in the United States. It was created on May 23, 1912.
This special road was an Auto Trail. It stretched all the way across the country. It started at the Atlantic Ocean in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Then it went through states like Montana and Wyoming. It even passed by the famous Yellowstone National Park. Finally, it reached the Pacific Ocean in Seattle, Washington. Its slogan was "A Good Road from Plymouth Rock to Puget Sound."
Contents
Building the Yellowstone Trail
The idea for the Yellowstone Trail came from Joseph William Parmley. He lived in Ipswich, South Dakota. In April 1912, he and his friends wanted to build a good road. Their first goal was a 25-mile (40 km) road from Ipswich to Aberdeen.
By May, their dream grew much bigger. They decided to build a road that went all the way across the country. This road would lead to popular places like Yellowstone National Park.
Roads in the Early 1900s
Cars were just becoming popular back then. But there were not many good roads for them. Most roads were dirt paths. There were no long-distance roads. Also, the government did not mark routes with signs.
The United States government had not built many roads before this time. Most states also had rules against building roads. So, groups like the Yellowstone Trail Association had to build them. The Yellowstone Trail was one of only three major roads that crossed the whole country.
How to Follow the Trail
In the early days, there were no highway signs. So, how did drivers know where to go? The Yellowstone Trail used yellow markers! People painted yellow bands around trees. They put yellow arrows on barns. They even made piles of rocks painted yellow. This helped drivers stay on the right path.
Exciting Events and the Trail Association
In June 1915, a special race happened on the Trail. It was a timed relay race from Chicago to Seattle. The route was 2,445 miles (3,935 km) long. The fastest time was 97 hours!
Accidents could happen during the race. One driver, George Murphy, was speeding. He crashed into a tree in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Luckily, he was okay. He finished his part of the race in a different car.
Yellowstone Trail Association's Role
The Yellowstone Trail Association was officially started in January 1918. Its main office was in Minneapolis. This group helped manage the road. They formed smaller groups in different states and towns.
These local groups found the best roads. They asked local governments to spend money to improve these roads. They also asked towns along the Trail to join the Association. Towns paid a small fee. In return, they were included in the Trail's maps and guides.
The Association also helped travelers. They published maps and brochures. They set up information centers in hotels and tents. Travelers could even call the Association. They could ask which roads were safe to use. These centers also gave out local information.
The Trail Changes Over Time
Over time, governments started building more roads. They also started marking them with numbers. For example, in Wisconsin, parts of the Yellowstone Trail became State Highway 18 in 1919. Later, this became U.S. Route 10 in 1926.
Because of these changes, private road groups like the Yellowstone Trail Association became less important. Cities stopped paying money to the Association.
Then, the Great Depression started in 1929. This made it harder for people to travel. The Yellowstone Trail Association closed its main office on March 15, 1930. A new group tried to keep it going until about 1939.
The Trail in the Eastern United States
In the eastern part of the United States, the Yellowstone Trail Association did not control the roads as much. Instead, they mostly gave out travel information. They wanted to encourage tourists to drive west along the Trail.
The Yellowstone Trail Today
Today, you can still find some streets and roads named "Yellowstone Trail." A few old sections of the road are still there. Most of the original garages and signs are gone.
However, people are working to bring back knowledge of the Trail. They want to help people learn about its history. You can still find parts of the old Trail in states like Wisconsin, Montana, and Washington. Some even have new signs!
Images for kids
-
Yellowstone Trail logo
-
Map of the Yellowstone Trail
