# 70. Horatio Nelson Jackson: The first person to drive an automobile across America

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/route-66-podcast-323925/70-horatio-nelson-jackson-the-first-person-to-drive-an-automobile-across-america
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/route-66-podcast-323925/70-horatio-nelson-jackson-the-first-person-to-drive-an-automobile-across-america.md
Podcast: [Route 66 Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/route-66-podcast-323925)
Published: 2026-06-16T00:44:00+00:00
Episode link: https://route66podcast.libsyn.com/70-horatio-nelson-jackson-the-first-person-to-drive-an-automobile-across-america
Audio file: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/route66podcast/Horatios_Drive_FINAL.mp3?dest-id=405613
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/route-66-podcast-323925/episodes/70-horatio-nelson-jackson-the-first-person-to-drive-an-automobile-across-america
Duration seconds: 4024

## Resource

In 1903 a Horatio Nelson Jackson, an eccentric doctor from Vermont, makes a $50 bet that he can be the first person to drive an automobile coast to coast in under 90 days. Despite not even owning a car, having no driving experience, and no road maps to plan the route Jackson heads out within five days of making the wager. The story was first written in the book, Horatio's Drive: America's first road trip , by Dayton Duncan, who would later unite with documentary film maker Ken Burns to create a feature PBS documentary film. Highlights from the show include: What makes a really good road trip? Road tripping basics Dayton earliest road trip memory Dayton's first impression of Ken Burns The Brooklyn Bridge film The most unusual $50 wager at a California social club Discovering Horatio Nelson Jackson Settling on the Winton touring car The start of the 1903 trip in San Francisco Documenting the trip Picking up a 4 legged passenger along the Route What happens when Jackson asked for directions Copy cats attempting to cross the continent by auto Packard Company attempt Oldsmobile attempt Winton Car Company asks Jackson to allow sponsorship Jackson turns down any financial help Jackson arrives into NYC under his own terms Packard and Oldsmobile final results Life after the historic ride Working alongside Ken Burns Artifacts at The Smithsonian Museum Thank you to Route 66 Podcast supporters, including: Rob and Cheryl Cochran – Maryland Jim Crabtree – California Todd Farrell – Nebraska John Garza - Texas Rich Havlik – Minnesota Mary Nicholson – Pennsylvania Phil Norton - Pennsylvania Mark Wilson – Texas And from the United Kingdom Charli Beeton THE MOTHER ROAD AT 100: The Voices of Route 66 A multimedia presentation featuring Route 66 before, during, and after its heyday During…

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