An exciting discovery of a long-lost artifact from the terminus of the Lincoln Highway has been found and is now in possession of the Lincoln Highway Association (LHA). The LHA replica concrete terminus post is shown above at the Palace of the Legion of Honor in Lincoln Park, San Francisco. That post was installed in 2002 by the LHA. The object below comes to us from 1917 and is the only known object remaining from the Terminus area. It read’s, END OF THE LINCOLN HIGHWAY.
The terminus of the Lincoln Highway had a metal sign attached to a post from 1915 to 1917 when the Native Daughters of the Golden West (NDGW) dedicated a large flag pole. The flag pole, made of a Douglas fir, had been washed ashore by the Golden Gate and dedicated to Betsy Ross, maker of the first flag of the United States. The pole had a bronze plaque that depicted an unfurled American flag. The circular base had two bronze strips affixed to the edge. One strip paid homage to Betsy Ross while the other proclaimed “END OF THE LINCOLN HIGHWAY.” The photo above, taken sometime after 1928, shows the plaque at the base.
Here we see the plaque with its aged bronzed patina sitting atop the fountain in front of the Palace of the Legion of Honor. The flag pole was removed, along with the concrete base in the c. 1970s. Why it was removed is unknown to us. All the parts of this monument were thought lost until now. This plaque is the oldest known remnant of any terminus monument.
To learn more about the history of the Terminus of the Lincoln Highway and enjoy more rare photos of the place and this object, please go to the California Chapter of the LHA Traveller Magazine, July 2014 here.