Baird in Callahan County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
The Bankhead Highway
Photographed By Duane Hall, February 8, 2015
1. The Bankhead Highway Marker
Inscription.
The Bankhead Highway. . The Bankhead National Highway, from Washington, D.C. to San Diego, California, was the nation’s first all-weather, coast-to-coast highway. The southern road skirted the western mountains and was largely free from ice and snow, so it could be used reliably year-round. It was named for Alabama Senator John H. Bankhead, author of the Federal Highway Act of 1916, which provided federal aid to states for highway construction. , An “All Texas” route from Texarkana to El Paso was approved when the Bankhead Highway Association met in Mineral Wells in April, 1919. A few branches were also approved. The primary route coincided with Texas Highway No. 1. About 900 miles long, the Texas 1 Bankhead comprised nearly one-third of the total length of the national road. , The Texas Bankhead became part of the route known as the “Broadway of America.” After numbers replaced names on national highways in 1926, the Bankhead route from Texarkana became part of US-67 to Dallas, where it joined US-80. Those federal highways were often realigned and by the 1960s gave way to Interstates 30 and 20 (which merged with I-10 in far West Texas). , Despite the changes, most of the early Bankhead in Texas remains as state and county roads that connect the towns which the interstates by-passed. The Bankhead name lives on in public memory, as do miles of Bankhead pavement from the 1920s.
The Bankhead National Highway, from Washington, D.C. to San Diego, California, was the nation’s first all-weather, coast-to-coast highway. The southern road skirted the western mountains and was largely free from ice and snow, so it could be used reliably year-round. It was named for Alabama Senator John H. Bankhead, author of the Federal Highway Act of 1916, which provided federal aid to states for highway construction.
An “All Texas” route from Texarkana to El Paso was approved when the Bankhead Highway Association met in Mineral Wells in April, 1919. A few branches were also approved. The primary route coincided with Texas Highway No. 1. About 900 miles long, the Texas 1 Bankhead comprised nearly one-third of the total length of the national road.
The Texas Bankhead became part of the route known as the “Broadway of America.” After numbers replaced names on national highways in 1926, the Bankhead route from Texarkana became part of US-67 to Dallas, where it joined US-80. Those federal highways were often realigned and by the 1960s gave way to Interstates 30 and 20 (which merged with I-10 in far West Texas).
Despite the changes, most of the early Bankhead in Texas remains as state and county roads that connect the towns which the interstates by-passed. The Bankhead name lives on
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in public memory, as do miles of Bankhead pavement from the 1920s.
Erected by Bankhead Highway Association.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1919.
Location. 32° 23.646′ N, 99° 23.244′ W. Marker is in Baird, Texas, in Callahan County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of East 4th Street (Business Interstate 20) and Cherry Street (U.S. 283), on the right when traveling west. Marker is located at the northwest corner of the intersection. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Baird TX 79504, United States of America. Touch for directions.
3. Northwest Corner of E. 4th Street (I-20 Business) and Cherry Street (US 283)
View to north from E. 4th Street
Photographed By Duane Hall, February 8, 2015
4. Western Cattle Trail Marker
Located near the Bankhead Highway marker, this cement post marks the route of the Western Cattle Trail (Handbook of Texas Online entry)
Photographed By Duane Hall, February 8, 2015
5. The Bankhead Highway, now E. 4th Street, Entering Baird
View to west from near marker location
Photographed By Duane Hall, February 8, 2015
6. The Bankhead Highway, now E. 4th Street, Leaving Baird
View to east from near marker location
Credits. This page was last revised on October 15, 2021. It was originally submitted on February 10, 2015, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. This page has been viewed 386 times since then and 6 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on February 10, 2015, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas.