2008

The Lincoln Highway was the first automobile road across America. Actively promoted by entrepreneur Carl G. Fisher, the Lincoln Highway originally spanned the continental United States from Times Square in New York City across thirteen states (New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illiniois, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, and California) to terminate in Lincoln Park, San Francisco. In 1915, the "Colorado Loop" was removed, and a 1928 realignment took the route through the northern tip of West Virginia. Thus, the historic Lincoln Highway passed through 14 states, 128 counties, and over 500 cities, towns and villages through which the highway passed at some time in its history.

Much of the route through Wyoming has now been subsumed into I-80. The large Robert Russin bust of Abraham Lincoln located at the rest area on I-80 just east of Laramie represents the highest point on the Lincoln Highway. The following east to west directions for following the Lincoln Highway through Wyoming come from Gregory Franzwa's recent tour guide of the old highway and the Lincoln Highway Association website:

• Take I-80 and exit at Lincolnway in Cheyenne. Rejoin I-80 at the west end of town.
• Watch for old segments of the Lincoln along the way. Be sure to stop at Tree Rock, the Lincoln Monument, and the Henry Joy Monument.
• Take the first Laramie exit, and follow the U.S. 30 signs toward Medicine Bow for the best section of the old Lincoln Highway in Wyoming.
• U.S. 30 rejoins I-80 at Walcott Junction.
• Follow Business I-80 through Sinclair and Rawlins. Rejoin I-80.
• The Henry Joy Monument was originally near Exit 184. It is now next to the Lincoln Monument.
• Business I-80 follows the 1926 alignment of the Lincoln through Rock Springs and Green River.
• Take the Bridger Valley exit to tour much of the Lincoln Highway through Lyman and Fort Bridger.
• Finally, take Business I-80 through Evanston and stop at Depot Square.