Past Gas #153: The First Cross-Country Road Trip

It’s 1903, and an out-of-work doctor, Horatio Nelson Jackson, is fiercely defending the world’s most exciting invention – the automobile – against a group of men who are POSITIVE that the car was just a fad. Jackson was so sure of himself that he bet $50 that he could take a car from San Francisco to New York City… a feat that had never been done before. Yes, he was going to embark on a road trip at a time when there were no highways, no road maps, no street signs, no gas stations, and no Red Roof Inn’s. Was the automobile even capable of such a journey? How would Horatio Nelson Jackson, an altogether inexperienced driver, complete this treacherous mission? And would he ever see that $50 again? Today on Past Gas, the story of the first cross-country road trip. More about Show: Follow Nolan on IG and Twitter @nolanjsykes.   Follow Joe on IG and Twitter @joegweber. Follow Donut @donutmedia, and subscribe to our Youtube and Facebook channels!   Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast for free wherever you're listening or using this link: http://bit.ly/PastGas. If you like the show, telling a friend about it would be helpful! You can text, email, Tweet, or send this link to a friend: http://bit.ly/PastGas. Thanks to our sponsors: Get Valvoline for your car! Sign up today at butcherbox.com/GAS and use code GAS to get 1 pack of free bacon in EVERY box for the life of your membership PLUS $10 off your first order.  Sign up for a Chime Checking Account at chime.com/gas. Visit Indeed.com/PASTGAS to start hiring now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices