Summer has arrived, schools are in recess, and families are packing up for vacations. The California Chapter returns to Donner Summit for our Summer Chapter Meeting on Saturday, July 9. This will be a great opportunity to cool off in the high mountain air while exploring California’s most historic square mile. The chapter meeting will be held at Old 40 Bar and Grill located at the Donner Ski Ranch at Donner Summit.
On June 12–20, the Eastern Third Tour, the first of three tours that follow the final 1928 alignment of the Lincoln Highway, took place. Tour guides Paul Gilger and Jim Cassler lead group members from New York to Joliet, Illinois. Stopping at numerous historical sites along the road was a fun-packed adventure. Paul Gilger will present the tour during our summer chapter meeting.
The Illinois chapter hosted the annual conference in Joliet from June 20–24, after a three-year absence due to the pandemic. Besides the Lincoln Highway, attendees were could also explore the Dixie Highway (another brainchild of Carl Fisher) and Route 66, which connected Chicago to Los Angeles and was a primary route for those who migrated west, especially during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s. It was recognized in popular culture by the 1946 hit song “Get Your Kicks on Route 66.”
Next year, California will host the 2023 national conference. Our committee is currently working on the agenda, which will include bus tours of Donner and Echo Summit alignments of the Lincoln. There will also be self-guided driving tours, one before the conference from the Western Terminus Marker in San Francisco to Folsom, and one after from Folsom to the Duarte Garage in Livermore. The Folsom–Rancho Cordova area will host the conference. The awards dinner will be held at the Mohanna Ranch and Event Center, which also hosted the Lincoln Highway 100th Anniversary California Dinner in 2013. Other details are still in progress.
Lake Slow Street project in San Francisco: There are no additional updates from my last report. We are currently waiting for a response from the city to install a Lincoln Highway History plaque.
“L” California Chapter roadway painting project: Monica Pitsenberger is working on the stencil, which will be used on concrete alignments in El Dorado and Placer Counties. We are waiting for replies from Caltrans and local county public works departments for painting “L” along alignments under state or county control.
Echo Summit Lodge: The October 8 chapter meeting will be held at the Echo Summit Lodge, currently managed by the California Alpine Club. We are researching having a food truck set up before the meeting, so we can enjoy lunch at the lodge.