Americans love of their automobile travel in general is legendary and globally acknowledged. And so many extraordinary sights to see; the Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore, and The Great Plains to name a few. In fact, we've been traveling since before we were even a young nation as our settlements expanded from the East Coast to the West Coast. It was difficult than, and now it would be far too hazardous a trip to make without roadside assistance.
Back in the late 1700s, the notion of travel was fueled from the very outset as the pioneers moved westward to expand the young nation across our massive continent. The draws were many and varied, from finding their own land to the call of the wild too the later advent of the gold rush in California. In those days, travel was most accomplished via wagon train or on horseback, and the going was anything but luxurious.
Travelling in the early days of this nation was fraught with danger. If the exposure, climate and difficulty finding sustenance did not get you, there was still the advent of lethal wild animals and an indigenous population that were often inhospitable. For this reason traveling was a carefully thought out and planned adventure not for the feint of heart.
The pioneers persevered, however, and despite many losses along the way, settlements were established throughout the country. Travel generally followed the designated postal routes of waterways and railways, with that mostly ending in Saint Joseph, Missouri, where further travel became truly an adventure. This explains why there are so many antique shops in that city, as the westward journey found unprepared settlers having to part with many of their belongings at the end of the railway system. They just could not get everything in a wagon.
The years from 1863 to 1869 saw a Herculean effort come to fruition as a railway line was completed traversing the nation. Fifty years later our first highway would cross from New York to California and the US was connected, albeit in a rudimentary fashion. Thus began the American love for driving.
The Lincoln Highway served as inspiration for the drafting of the National Interstate and Defense Act of 1956 which provided for the construction of the interstate highway system. Formally entitled the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, this system served two purposes. It encouraged and facilitated interstate tourism and business, and it provided the means to move the massive military machine should the US every come under attack. President Eisenhower had been impressed by the German roadway system while he served as the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe during World War II.
This notion of assisting with the national defense is the answer to a number of trivialities about the roadway. The answer to why there is an interstate in Hawaii and Alaska is answered by the connectivity between military bases in these two states, as the original bill authorizing its construction was also a national defense endeavor. Also one mile out of every five miles is straight, allowing it to be used as an emergency landing field if it is necessary (more prominent with CAA insurance).
Travel across the united States in the form of a road trip has been immortalized in movies and been a part of most American lives. About the only downside to traveling across the nation is the time it takes and the possibility of having your car malfunction or just die altogether out in the middle of nowhere. The introduction of roadside assistance has all but taken these risks out of the equation.
Back in the late 1700s, the notion of travel was fueled from the very outset as the pioneers moved westward to expand the young nation across our massive continent. The draws were many and varied, from finding their own land to the call of the wild too the later advent of the gold rush in California. In those days, travel was most accomplished via wagon train or on horseback, and the going was anything but luxurious.
Travelling in the early days of this nation was fraught with danger. If the exposure, climate and difficulty finding sustenance did not get you, there was still the advent of lethal wild animals and an indigenous population that were often inhospitable. For this reason traveling was a carefully thought out and planned adventure not for the feint of heart.
The pioneers persevered, however, and despite many losses along the way, settlements were established throughout the country. Travel generally followed the designated postal routes of waterways and railways, with that mostly ending in Saint Joseph, Missouri, where further travel became truly an adventure. This explains why there are so many antique shops in that city, as the westward journey found unprepared settlers having to part with many of their belongings at the end of the railway system. They just could not get everything in a wagon.
The years from 1863 to 1869 saw a Herculean effort come to fruition as a railway line was completed traversing the nation. Fifty years later our first highway would cross from New York to California and the US was connected, albeit in a rudimentary fashion. Thus began the American love for driving.
The Lincoln Highway served as inspiration for the drafting of the National Interstate and Defense Act of 1956 which provided for the construction of the interstate highway system. Formally entitled the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, this system served two purposes. It encouraged and facilitated interstate tourism and business, and it provided the means to move the massive military machine should the US every come under attack. President Eisenhower had been impressed by the German roadway system while he served as the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe during World War II.
This notion of assisting with the national defense is the answer to a number of trivialities about the roadway. The answer to why there is an interstate in Hawaii and Alaska is answered by the connectivity between military bases in these two states, as the original bill authorizing its construction was also a national defense endeavor. Also one mile out of every five miles is straight, allowing it to be used as an emergency landing field if it is necessary (more prominent with CAA insurance).
Travel across the united States in the form of a road trip has been immortalized in movies and been a part of most American lives. About the only downside to traveling across the nation is the time it takes and the possibility of having your car malfunction or just die altogether out in the middle of nowhere. The introduction of roadside assistance has all but taken these risks out of the equation.
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With CAA insurance, you can feel relaxed if you face a vehicular emergency. And who knows? You might even win a Las Vegas vacation package if you accrue enough points in some CAA insurance packages!
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