Crest Hill in Will County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Women on the Lincoln Highway
Crest Hill, Illinois
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 26, 2016
1. Women on the Lincoln Highway Marker
Anita King, a former race car driver turned movie star, was the first woman to drive solo cross-country on the Lincoln Highway. Nicknamed the "Paramount Girl", she left Los Angeles on August 25, 1915. Making public appearances along the route, she reached New York in 49 days. King later appeared in the movie version of her journey entitled, 'The Race'.
Auto manufacturing company Maxwell-Briscoe was impressed with Alice Ramsey's excellent driving in an endurance race. They proposed an all-expenses-paid trip to Ramsey if she would show that their new Maxwell car could take anyone, even a woman driver, all the way across America. Ramsey made history with the first all-female team to drive from New York City to San Francisco.
Erected by Illinois Lincoln Highway Coalition.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Roads & Vehicles • Women. In addition, it is included in the Lincoln Highway series list. A significant historical date for this entry is August 25, 1915.
Location. 41° 33.312′ N, 88° 7.597′ W. Marker is in Crest Hill, Illinois, in Will County. Marker is on Plainfield Road (Lincoln Highway) (U.S. 30) just west of North Larkin Avenue, on the right when traveling west. Marker is mounted above eye-level on the
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Site of Joliet — Plainfield Plank Road Toll Gate (approx. 1.8 miles away); Route 66 Park (approx. 2.4 miles away); "A House Divided Against Itself Cannot Stand" (approx. 2˝ miles away); Ruby Street Bridge (approx. 2.6 miles away); After the Whistle Blows (approx. 2.6 miles away); Language Barriers (approx. 2.7 miles away); What's Cooking? (approx. 2.7 miles away); High Risks & Hard Work (approx. 2.7 miles away).
Also see . . .
1. Anita King: The Paramount Girl Who Conquered a Continent. Welcome to Silent Movies website entry:
The Kissel company provided her with the car she would drive, a 42-six stock KisselKar equipped with Firestone tires. The Los Angeles Times wrote at the time: "There will be nobody with her at any time on the trip. She will have no mechanician, no chauffeur, no maid. Her only companions will be a rifle and a six shooter." (Submitted on April 8, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
2. Alice Huyler Ramsey, the first woman to drive across the country. Roadtrippers website entry:
Before Amelia Earhart flew across the Atlantic, before Valentina Tereshkova was the first woman to enter space,
2. Marker detail: Anita King
Anita King, 1st Solo Female Transcontinental Driver
Women in Transportation History website entry
Click for more information.
Women in Transportation History website entry
Click for more information.
3. Marker detail: Alice Ramsey
Credits. This page was last revised on August 10, 2021. It was originally submitted on April 7, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 471 times since then and 221 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 8, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
