Baltimore Washington LHA Auxiallary Route

After the Conference Adventures

There have been some people who has expressed an interest in heading to either Philadelphia or even Washington DC to participate in some of the amazing America 250 celebrations planned in the days leading up to July 4, 2026. Certainly, there will be a lot of people headed there and who doesn’t want to be part of it all.

If you are doing BOTH, then perhaps you are familar with the history of President Woodrow Wilson’s 1914 proposal to realign the original Lincoln Highway route between Philadelphia and Gettysburg to bypass south central Pennsylvania and instead go through Baltimore and Washington DC before heading north again through Maryland and back to Gettysburg. Here’s a snapshot from the LHA online map if you aren’t familar with this auxiallary route.

Thankfully, the LHA determined that the most direct route between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh across Pennsylvania should be kept or we wouldn’t even be having our national conference in York, PA this year. While more research is needed, it is believed that the LHA feeder route basically followed what is US Route 1 today from Philadelphia and Washington DC. You’ll also note that the only Lincoln Highway point of interest listed on the LHA online map is the Zero Milestone Marker located on The Elipse facing The White House. Those familar with the 1919 Army Truck Convoy told in After Ike and other books understand the significance of this marker.

So, if you wanted to explore this LHA feedback route we’d be very interested to hear about your adventures. From the map, it appears you’d want to stay off I-95 so we’re sure you’d be passing through a variety of urban neighborhoods along the way. Some places along US Route 1 in Chester County, Pennsylvania that you may want to visit prior to wandering south of the Mason Dixon line include the beautiful Longwood Gardens, the delicious Mushroom Capital of the World, Kennett Square, and the Herr’s Snack Food Factory Tour. So much to see and do throughout the Brandywine River region.

So many miles on so many historic roads and so little time. If you have traveled the LHA feeder route, tell us where you traveled and what you saw along the way that other Lincoln Highway fans would enjoy. Thank you.