In 1923, this was the most advanced 1.3 miles of road in the world. This "seedling mile" was built by the Lincoln Highway Association after consulting 17 of America's top highway experts, and was hailed as a vision of the future. It was sponsored by the United States Rubber Company and the Portland Cement Association (all future highways would supposedly be made of cement).
The monument also memorializes Henry C. Ostermann, vice-president of the Lincoln Highway Association, who was killed on the Lincoln Highway in 1920 -- on a non-Ideal stretch in Iowa, not here.
The Ideal Section looks a lot like most highways nowadays (minus the cement), which should make us all feel pretty fortunate.
