Keep the Show on the Road!

The Horatio Nelson Jackson first ever transcontinental is a favorite story, and they followed sections of what is now US 20 in central Idaho and eastern Oregon. Before you take your US 20 trip, take a look at my stuff here. http://americanroadmagazine.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=1852&hl=craters It is the story of Dwight Huss and Percy Megargel in Old scout and Old Steady. You can still drive in their wheel ruts in places less than a mile off modern US20 in Idaho, and those are the same ruts followed by Jackson in that area. Before you spend money on Blue Books, be aware that some are available on Google Books for free. If you have any problem finding them, I'll provide a URL. Dave Keep the Show on the Road!

(First, I am again too lazy to dig out my Blue Books so I am speaking from memory....but if anything here is important just let me know and I will do my homework to verify my recollections.) Actually the transcontinental editions had neither fewer pages nor less advertising, they just had limited scope. Rather than cover a wide variety of roads, they covered only the trunk/transcontinental roads. Depending on the year, they were sometimes combined with a regional edition so you had something like "Western and Transcontinental." The format of the Blue Books changed over the years. Early editions tend to be organized around tours and localities, while those done after perhaps 1913 follow routes described in sections. As I think I have inferred before, they get less and less detailed over the years, as road signage improved as well as road conditions. You could still get lost in 1925, but it was a lot harder. By the mid to late 20's roads were well established and by the late 1920's most through roads were surfaced or improved, which meant they were graded and were something other than dirt. By 1930, Oregon, for example (not a pioneer road builder) said all its main roads were improved and others were oiled. The Blue Books lost their purpose. I might direct your attention to what I consider an equally useful set of guides, the Hobbs Guides. They sell for less than Blue Books and are Surface and Grade oriented, but their real value is in their descriptions of accommodations and garages. I posted a few at www.historicalroadmaps.com a few years ago before I lost interest in that little project. Most I have seen are from the late teens through the early 30's of the last century. It is sort of interesting to realize that a publication that was based on how steep the hills were had so wide a following. I know the western end of US 20 quite well. Most will not realize that in the far west it was the route of some of the first transcontinental auto trip, and of some of the first transcontinental auto race. Well, I ramble.... Dave Keep the Show on the Road!

Well, I would personally look at the South West myself, meaning Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, California, Nevada. Those are more interesting because there were fewer auto trips into those areas (California excepted)and therefore fewer Blue Books for those areas were published and fewer are still around. I am not ambitious enough to write a pricing guide, but early western, south western, northwestern, and transcontinental editions are generally the most valuable, again for the obvious reason that the cars were in the east and most trips weren't across the country. Thanks for the interest! Dave Keep the Show on the Road

Ara and Spirit, New Year's greetings! The opening photo on the blog "shocked" me. I certainly was not expecting snow! It snapped me back to awareness. The photos of the goings on were great....of course the two women looking at the fellow bending over was a hoot. Not to be a purist, but it looked like a few more visiting city folk might have showed up. The word gets out. It is always nice to check in on you. Your words are mostly wise and always interesting...and I always appreciate your take on life. Dave Keep the Show on the Road

32vid, I'll claim a little expertise on the subject of Automobile Blue Books. I have over 50, and perhaps closer to 75. To get right to your question about cost, anywhere from $15 to $125. That doesn't help a lot so let me get a little more specific. As you would suppose there are at least three factors. Condition, age, and locations covered. Condition is sort of obvious, but not always the main factor because buyers are often looking for content and will not put condition above a hard to find copy. Next, generally the older the better. Probably the most important factor is what area is covered. New England and New York were the most common and generally bring the lowest price, other factors equal. On the other hand an early west coast edition can fetch $100 or more. You probably would have been safe paying $20 for any of them, but if they were say New York, that is what it would still be worth, unless it was very early. I don't recall when the first ones came out, but say 1906. By the mid to late 1920's they were no longer needed for turn by turns because the roads were reasonably well established and well marked by then, and so they were shorter and evolved more into maps and sightseeing descriptions.. I have greatly enjoyed my copies. I never bought them as collectibles, but rather for their content. Over the years they have provided help in locating the old routes, and in the "then" images for then and now photos of hotels, garages, etc.. For the beginning collector, I suggest the early 1920's (1920-21) copies because by then the Auto Trails were well established and cited in many route descriptions,, and because they routinely included a description of the road conditions and surfaces at the beginning of each route. And they won't cost an arm and a leg. Of course earlier copies have other valuable citations, like where you could buy gasoline and supplies, which wasn't necessary advice by 1920,. I have even used them to discover a forgotten town (site) on the Yellowstone Trail. That was more than you asked, but I could go on for pages. Thanks for asking!! Dave Keep the Show on the Road!

Great video! But he better hurry because the K Marts are closing around here!! I drove old US99 through Tacoma a couple of days ago just to photograph the roadside. The landmarks of the past are disappearing, but any old roadside has more to say that all the Interstates in the country combined. Dave Keep the Show on the Road!

Jim, I'm confident we can help, provided she needs any assistance. I was tempted to start to trace the route on a 1928 atlas, using her stops list, but I held off because it isn't my project to pursue. I'm going to watch here to see if she posts, and go from there. I'm glad you spotted her blog. Dave Keep the Show on the Road!

Denny, Jim, Maria tells us that she has registered for the Forum, so I hope to see her here soon! She will certainly have friends here! I, for one, am pulling out 1928-30 Road atlases from the stack. Dave Keep the Show on the Road!

Cort, You are looking sharp in the photos with your niece and nephew, and the newbie portends a good year! Like you say, life is funny, and one terrific adventure. Keep the Show on the Road! Dave

Jim, A great web discovery! Looking at the sites Maria lists, the route should be fairly easy to determine, and if she wants copies of a 1929 highway atlas. I probably have one, or one plus or minus a year. Your link to her blog took me to a page that appears to be under construction, but when I went to Facebook and followed one of the links to the blog I found more of the blog. Maria seems interested in American Road, and we can certainly help her. Most of my “stuff” is before 1929, but I probably have Blue Books, and ALA Green Books that should provide some collateral info. Thanks for the tip! Dave Keep the Show on the Road!

"I only hope that I can share half as much with this board as I have gotten out of it and if in the process there happens to be few photos that you enjoy then that is good too." You have certainly accomplished that! And you have inspired me to learn more about photography. I have been doing it for 50 years, and it has been a factor in every trip I have ever taken, but I still have not achieved your quality of work. I told Sheila this morning that after 50 years of practice,, I am still not half as good as Rick. But I still enjoy it and I keep learning, so keep giving us examples to aspire to!! Dave Keep the Show on the Road!

Merry Christmas, one and all! Dave Keep the Show on the Road!

Rick, Old Paul really got around! The woodpile is quite interesting to me. And I was completely unaware of its existence. That is unusual for an old western roadie like me. Several things were unique about that formation. It took a lot of geologic churning to get the “logs” in that position. Definitely worth seeing if I even get to that area again. I pursued your photo catalog a little, following the link in your blog. As always the photos are great and more, and it has grown a lot in the past few years. And many of the photos, I would say most, are off the beaten path. Folks here should take a visit because Rick has not only produced a terrific set of images, he has also added descriptions and the history of each location. For me, and I hope for others, it is a great collection of places I want to visit. (Rick, I want to make a suggestion. If it is convenient, why not include one of the photos in your posts, to whet the appetite and draw interest.) Dave Keep the Show on the Road!

Denny, Send the money, I'll provide the time! Dave Keep the Show on the Road!

Jim, How did you find out that the old concrete is still there? If I had the time and money, it would be fun to visit Louisville and see if I could stand in the same place as the photographer. And if you know the old concrete is still there, is it cracked along its length? (Boy, talk about esoteric knowledge! This is me....knowing more and more about less and less....it can make us world "experts." ) Dave Keep the Show on the Road!

Jim, What a great image! Just like you might imagine a "central park" to be. The whole shot is so close to a classic it might almost seem staged. And it is curious that center joints were used in sidewalks. I wonder if it had something to do with the depth of the concrete. Maybe folks assumed thicker road concrete would not crack as badly....pure guessing. Dave Keep the Show on the Road

Mike, Based on the response so far, I'd say you have an open field to be the forum expert on Virginia Beach!! I know there is the famous Cape Henry Lighthouse, so a photo is due. Dave Keep the Show on the Road!

Denny, I used Yahoo search (I think it is the old Alta Vista) and came up with several current references....but I did not do more than scan a few. I figure you know a lot more than I do on the subject, so..... One thought, perhaps not useful, but have you tried to email Infinityads for a solution? Dave Keep the Show on the Road

Denny, I use Chrome almost exclusively. Dave Keep the Show on the Road!

Wow and double Wow! I really didn't think you folks could top past issues, but the Winter issue is my all time favorite. And I now get it digitally as well as in print, so I have it wherever I have my laptop or tablet. I have hours of good reading ahead, and the photos are just great. Nice job to everyone at American Road from a charter subscriber. We have enjoyed the ten years together! Dave Keep the Show on the Road!

Denny, The “Infinity Virus” gets a fair amount of comment on the web, as you no doubt know. Maybe I haven't gotten it because I run a highly recommended anti virus program and another anti spyware program. I have been virus and spyware free for years, despite lots of web surfing. Dave Keep the Show on the Road

Alex, But then he would have to read the books!!! Dave Keep the Show on the road!

Jim, IMPRESSIVE!! Job very well done! Dave Keep the Show on the ....Michigan...Road!

Denny, It is 5:35 PDST and I have been posting and reading without that problem....but I bet it will happen the next time I log in. Dave Keep the Show on the Road

Rick, Here is a short 1972 video clip made from my old 8mm movie of Elephant Hill in the Canyonlands in my 1970 Toyota Landcruiser. I don't suppose those rocks have changed much in 40 years. That was my father, not me kissing the pavement when we got back on asphalt. Funny, that Toyota still looks “new” to me. The memory plays little tricks! I recall paying about $4,000 for it. Dave Keep the Show on the Road!