"It was on (June 9) in 1909 that the first woman to drive across the United States, Alice Huyler Ramsey, (1886-1983) left New York City for San Francisco. She was 22 years old, a housewife from Hackensack, New Jersey. Her trip got a lot of media attention. In 1909, not many women drove cars, and some doctors thought that it was dangerous for women to even ride in cars because they would get too worked up at more than 20 miles an hour. Alice Huyler Ramsey drove 3,800 miles across the country in a Maxwell 30 with three other women, but she was the only one who knew how to drive. They drove for 41 days and used 11 spare tires. She wrote a book about the trip called Veil, Duster, and Tire Iron (1961). In 2000, she was the first woman inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame."
Source: Writer's Almanac
"Only 152 of the 3,600 miles (244 of the 5,767 kilometers) that the group traveled were paved. Over the course of the drive, Ramsey changed 11 tires, cleaned the spark plugs, repaired a broken brake pedal and had to sleep in the car when it was stuck in mud. The women mostly navigated by using telephone poles, following the poles with more wires in hopes that they would lead to a town. SOURCE: Wikipedia
I couldn't figure out this prompt picture. What are the figures in the foreground up to...something behind fences, but there are tall poles also on the "playing surface." I gave up and found a bit of history which salutes a woman driver. See Sepia Saturday for more interesting blog posts!
...thanks for this great history lesson.
ReplyDeleteIt's fun to find trivia to share!
DeleteHello, great post on the first woman to drive across our country. I would like to drive across the country to. Enjoy your day, happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteI almost went all the way across back in the 70's, but turned around in Nevada and went back to FL!
DeleteWhat a remarkable feat. Great bit of history.
ReplyDeleteI cannot imagine 4 women in a car for that long a time (even today!)
DeleteIsn't it funny what doctors used to think about women? They thought reading fiction was trouble too.
ReplyDeleteWomen probably were part of the myth about their fragility...in order to get any rest from housework, raising children, and preparing meals! Got to put their feet up and rest somehow!
DeleteI would not have undertaken a cross-country trip back in those days. Wow!
ReplyDeleteImagine what they were leaving at home...nah, that's a bad attitude. It looks as if they were well supported to do the trip, and probably had admirers somewhere nearby most if not all of the time.
DeleteWith "Mrs." in front of their names, at least the driver and one passenger were married. I wonder how they talked their husbands into letting them make such a trip? Perhaps they were used to their wives being involved in such feats. Or perhaps the gals were widows? Whichever, they certainly had courage!
ReplyDeleteYes indeed, courage...and then somehow to finish the long journey!
DeleteWhat amazing, adventurous women and what a challenge for them! Thanks for sharing the story.
ReplyDeleteMaybe they were a bit foolish also, but I think there must have been some kind of support for them along the way. Like where they slept, ate, and had bathroom facilities!
DeleteWow, changing 11 tires! I am impressed.
ReplyDeleteThe news focused upon the car part of the trip, where I want to know more about how the women coped!
DeleteAmazing story! My maternal grandmother and aunt drove in the 1960s from upstate New York to San Diego -- a trip I was impressed by as a child. But to make that trip in 1909 without the benefit of maps? Awe inspiring!
ReplyDeleteThe 1960s were before interstates, so that's an exciting trip they took!
DeleteIt did occur to me recently that we don't seem to have as many flat tyres as we used to in the old days. Now I'll jinx myself I know. But have they improved the quality of them or is it just that we drive on better roads now. I suppose it is the latter. A really interesting post. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI think tire are made better, we don't have to have inner-tubes any more.
DeleteI generally do not do road trips and that's on paved roads. I would never have survived the road trip in your post!. Great post.
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