American Road: The Story of an Epic Transcontinental Journey at the Dawn of the Motor Age

American Road chronicles the 1919 U.S. Army's first motor convoy across the United States, from Washington D.C. to San Francisco. The convoy included 81 vehicles, 24 officers, and 258 enlisted men traveling 3,251 miles to test the capabilities of military vehicles and assess the condition of American roads. The book follows Lieutenant Colonel Dwight D. Eisenhower and other key figures as they navigate mechanical breakdowns, mud, and primitive roads through cities and remote areas. Their journey exposed the poor state of America's highway infrastructure and highlighted the need for connected, paved roads across the nation. The narrative interweaves the convoy's day-to-day challenges with broader historical context about early automobile culture and the Good Roads Movement. Technical details about the vehicles and road conditions mix with personal stories of the men who made the journey. This account of a pivotal moment in American transportation history examines the intersection of military needs, technological progress, and infrastructure development that shaped the modern highway system.

Readers describe the book as engaging but uneven. Many found value in the technical details of the 1919 military convoy and historical context of early American roads. Positive reviews highlight: - Thorough research and first-hand accounts - Clear explanations of road-building challenges - Connection between military needs and civilian infrastructure - Portraits of key figures like Dwight Eisenhower Common criticisms: - Narrative sometimes loses focus - Too much detail about minor events - Pacing issues in middle sections - Limited maps and photos Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (164 ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (43 ratings) Sample reader comments: "Fascinating slice of American history I knew nothing about" - Goodreads reviewer "Gets bogged down in minutiae" - Amazon reviewer "Could have been 100 pages shorter" - LibraryThing reviewer "Important story but dry at times" - Goodreads reviewer

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🚗 The 1919 Motor Transport Corps Convoy featured in the book included a young Lt. Colonel Dwight D. Eisenhower, whose experience later influenced his support for creating the Interstate Highway System as President. 🛣️ The cross-country journey from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco took 62 days, with the convoy averaging just 6 miles per hour due to poor road conditions and frequent mechanical failures. 🔧 Of the 81 vehicles that started the journey, 21 trucks and other vehicles broke down completely and had to be abandoned along the way. 📝 Author Pete Davies spent years researching the convoy, including accessing military records and personal diaries of participants to recreate the day-by-day experience of this historic trek. 🗺️ The convoy's route largely followed the Lincoln Highway, America's first transcontinental road, which was only seven years old at the time and consisted primarily of dirt tracks, wagon trails, and primitive roads.