Monument To "The Ideal Section" Of The Lincoln Highway

Dyer, Indiana

In 1921 this was the most advanced 1.3 miles of road in the world, paved with thick concrete, with accompanying sidewalks, lights, curbs, bridges, and culverts. 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 were expected to be made of portland 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.

Oddly, the monument was an afterthought. The spot where it stands was originally planned as a campground (another futurist improvement), but it proved too expensive. So the monument was built instead.

The Ideal Section looks a lot like most highways nowadays (minus the portland cement), which should make us all feel pretty fortunate.

Monument To "The Ideal Section" Of The Lincoln Highway

Address:: 1250 Joliet St., Dyer, IN
Directions:: East of town, on the south side of US Hwy 30/Joliet St., just west of the intersection of Northwinds Drive. About 1.5 miles west of the intersection of US Hwy 41. Use the parking lot across the highway on Northwinds Drive.
Hours:: Covered up in Fall and Winter. Local health policies may affect hours and access.

More on Monument To "The Ideal Section" Of The Lincoln Highway

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