Map of United States, Showing Route of Race and Return Route of Ford Card No. 2

Simple map of the United States showing the route of a 1909 transcontinental automobile race.

This small folding map shows the route taken by Ford Car No. 2 in the Ocean to Ocean Automobile Endurance Contest, held in conjunction with the Alaska–Yukon–Pacific Exposition in Seattle in 1909. The six participants in the race, including 2 cars sponsored by Henry Ford, started on June 1st in New York and traveled through 12 states and 30 cities on their cross-country motor tour. Apart from visiting those 30 designated points, where each driver received a stamp, the route was entirely up to each team.

After taking home first prize (the Guggenheim Trophy and $2,000 in gold) for completing the trip with an official time of 20 days and 52 minutes, the Ford Car No. 2 took a far more circuitous route home! Between trips, the stripped down Model-T spent two weeks on display as an attraction at the World’s Fair in Seattle.

The map folds into the back of a small booklet called “The Story of the Race” which was published as promotional material by the Ford company shortly after the conclusion of the competition. The accompanying 31 pages provides an overview of the origins of the race, a quick summary of the trip for both Ford cars, a list of rules, and of course photographs and specifications of the latest models. What the text fails to mention is that the Ford No. 2 car was stripped of its title for violating the rules less than six months after the race had ended!

Also of interest – the transcontinental contest was re-enacted in 2009. Fifty-five Model T Fords participated in the re-enactment, representing all 50 of the United States and five foreign countries!