paper. Two sided, membership card, with original envelope. Card 2 3/10" high, 3 6/10" wide. Front reads: No. 1, The Lincoln Highway Association, Contributor's Ticket, Issued to Mr. Woodrow Wilson. Back reads: The holder of this card is a contributor to the funds of the Lincoln Highway Association whose object is to immediately promote and procure the establishment of a continuous, improved highway from the Atlantic to the Pacific, open to all lawful traffic of all descriptions without toll charges; and to be of concrete wherever practicable. This highway is to be known as "The Lincoln Highway," in memory of Abraham Lincoln. National Headquarters, Detroit, Michigan. Signed: A. R. Pardington, secretary. September 19, 1913.

During the 19th century, cities usually had decent roads, but rural roads were often little more than muddy trails. In the 1880s, bicyclists and railroad companies began calling for good roads, but American road building really took off in the 20th century as a response to rising numbers of cars and trucks. Some of these new roads were private initiatives, such as the Lincoln Highway, but after 1916, federal law and government money fueled much of the country's road building.