Horatio's Drive, America's First Road Trip
Alfred A. Knopf, 2003. Item #82167
First edition. Very Good book in a Very Good dust jacket.
Horatio’s Drive tells the true story of Horatio Nelson Jackson, who in 1903 became the first person to drive an automobile across the United States. The book is based on the PBS documentary of the same name, directed by Ken Burns and written by Dayton Duncan.
Content:
• The narrative follows Jackson’s ambitious and often chaotic journey from San Francisco to New York in a Winton touring car named the Vermont.
• Accompanied by his mechanic Sewall Crocker and later a dog named Bud, the story is filled with humor, ingenuity, and the pioneer spirit of early American motorists.
• It draws heavily from primary sources, especially Jackson’s letters and telegrams to his wife, bringing vivid detail and personality to the adventure.
Features:
• The book includes archival photographs, maps, and period illustrations.
• It captures the challenges of early automobile travel: unpaved roads, unreliable technology, and the novelty of the motorcar in small-town America.
Historical Significance:
• Jackson’s trip took 63 days and symbolized a turning point in American culture—the dawn of the automobile age.
• The journey inspired national interest in road-building and helped fuel the Good Roads Movement.
Price: $45.00