NPS Form 10-900-b OMB No. 1024-0018 (March 1992) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Documentation Form This form is used for documenting multiple property groups relating to one or several historic contexts. See instructions in How to Complete the Multiple Property Documentation Form (National Register Bulletin 16B). Complete each item by entering the requested information. For additional space, use continuation sheets (Form 10- 900-a). Use a typewriter, word processor, or computer to complete all items. [ ] New Submission [X] Amended Submission A. Name of Multiple Property Listing Historic and Architectural Resources of the Lincoln Highway in Nebraska B. Associated Historic Contexts (Name each associated historic context, identifying theme, geographical area, and chronological period for each.) Highway Development in Nebraska, c. 1879-1974 The Lincoln Highway in Nebraska, 1913-1974 C. Form Prepared by Christina Slattery, Erin Pogany, and Emily Schill Name/title L.Robert Puschendorf Mead & Hunt, Inc. August 2002 Organization Nebraska State Historical Society Date January 2007 6501 Watts Road 608-273-6380 Street & Number 1500 R Street, P.O. Box 82554 Telephone 402-471-4769 Madison WI 53719 City or Town Lincoln State NE Zip 68501 D. Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, I hereby certify that this documentation form meets the National Register documentation standards and sets forth requirements for the listing of related properties consistent with the National Register Criteria. This submission meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60 and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation. ([ ] See continuation sheet for additional comments.) /s/ Michael J. Smith May 17, 2007 Signature and title of certifying official Date State Historic Preservation Officer Director, Nebraska State Historical Society State or Federal agency and bureau I hereby certify that this multiple property documentation form has been approved by the National Register as a basis for evaluating related properties for listing in the National Register. Signature of the Keeper Date of Action Historic and Architectural Resources of the Lincoln Highway in Nebraska Nebraska Name of Multiple Property Listing State Table of Contents for Written Narrative Provide the following information on continuation sheets. Cite the letter and the title before each section of the narrative. Assign page numbers according to the instructions for continuation sheets in How to Complete the Multiple Property Documentation Form (National Register Bulletin 16B). Fill in page numbers for each section in the space below. Page Numbers E. Statement of Historic Contexts: E1-E20 Highway Development in Nebraska The Lincoln Highway in Nebraska F. Associated Property Types F1-F26 G. Geographical Data G1 H. Summary of Identification and Evaluation Methods H1-H3 I. Major Bibliographical References I1-I3 Paperwork Reduction Act Statement: This information is being collected for application to the National Register of Historic Places to nominate properties for listing or determine eligibility for listing, to list properties, and to amend existing listings. Response to this request is required to obtain a benefit in accordance with the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.). Estimated Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for this form is estimated to average 18.1 hours per response including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining data, and completing and reviewing the form. Direct comments regarding this burden estimate or any aspect of this form to the Chief, Administrative Services Division, National Park Service, P.O. Box 37127, Washington, DC 20013-7127; and the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (1024-0018), Washington, DC 20503. NPS Form 10-900a OMB No. 1024-0018 (Rev. 8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Historic and Architectural Resources of the Lincoln Highway in Nebraska Section E Page 1 Name of Multiple Property Listing E. Statement of Historic Contexts Introduction This Multiple Property Documentation form of Historic and Architectural Resources of the Lincoln Highway in Nebraska is based on surveys and research completed for the Nebraska State Historical Society. HIGHWAY DEVELOPMENT IN NEBRASKA Early State Road Legislation In the nineteenth century much of the country, including Nebraska, had largely undeveloped road networks. The railroad dominated in the nineteenth century as the preferred method of transportation and the system of roads developed haphazardly. Nebraska’s first county road law pre-dates statehood, passed by the Territorial Legislature on January 26, 1856. The Legislature recognized the need to develop roads to connect settlements within the territory and passed the authority for constructing territorial roads to county government. With this permission, counties were able to impose taxes and appropriate labor to aid in constructing and maintaining roads.1 The law stated that construction of roads was the responsibility of the individual counties affected. Therefore, the county was responsible for surveying public roads, maintaining them to standards spelled out in the law, and overseeing construction labor. Despite the legislation, roads throughout Nebraska remained poorly repaired and maintained. The majority of traffic on early roads was local in character; therefore, the condition of the roads was initially only the concern of individual townships.2 These local roads often remained in poor condition because maintenance meant higher taxes. An 1862 map prepared by civil engineer August Harvey indicates ten territorial routes in Nebraska. They were: Omaha City to Cedar Island, Plattsmouth to Archer and Kansas line, Brownville to Nebraska Center, Tekomah to Pawnee, Florence to Fontanelle, Nebraska City to Grand Island, Bellevue to Catherine, De Soto to Pawnee, a suitable point on the Platte River to Dakotah, and Pawnee to Nebraska Center.3 In the following years, the state began to recognize the need for good roads; however, they did not take responsibility for the construction of the roads. In 1879 the Nebraska Legislature passed a general road law reserving section line roads as public roads and granting individual counties the authority to build and maintain them. The required width of these roads was 66- feet. The law also authorized a tax levy to finance maintenance projects. Where previous legislation made road construction the responsibility of the county, it did not mandate the creation of roads. Because road construction was financed through local taxation, interest in road construction and improvement rarely extended beyond township lines. Men within a community would opt to do road construction work to pay off their tax levy, but expressed little interest in additional taxation to extend or complete the road. As a result, as early highways were delineated in Nebraska, they often followed poorly maintained existing roads that were largely section line roads. The first state agency with road-related responsibilities was the State Board of Irrigation. Created on April 24, 1895, the State Board of Irrigation was charged with supervising irrigation practices to manage Nebraska’s water resources, while preserving the integrity of affected waterways. Included in the board’s responsibilities were overseeing the construction of State Aid bridge plans and specifications and it grew into the state agency that dealt with road issues. The federal government formally became involved in roads in 1893 with the formation of the Office of Road Inquiry within the United States Department of Agriculture. The engineers within this office became involved with the “Good Roads” movement and the department evolved into a central source of technical information regarding roads. The Office of Road Inquiry was 4 involved in data collection and released bulletins and circulars addressing road construction and administration issues. 1Koster, 11-12. 2Clinton Warne, “Some Effects of the Introduction of the Automobile on Highways and Land Values in Nebraska,” Nebraska History 38, no. 1 (1957), 43-44; Koster, 2. 3Wardner G. Scott, “Nebraska Public Highways,” Nebraska History XXVI, no. 3 (July-Sept. 1945), 164. 4Bruce E. Seely, Building the American Highway System: Engineers as Policy Makers (Philadelphia, Pa.: Temple University Press, 1987), 9. NPS Form 10-900a OMB No. 1024-0018 (Rev. 8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Historic and Architectural Resources of the Lincoln Highway in Nebraska Section E Page 2 Name of Multiple Property Listing The popularity of the bicycle and the introduction of the automobile raised public awareness of the need for adequate roads. In response to the poor condition of the nation’s roads system, the “Good Roads Movement” emerged. By the 1890s, interest groups began pressuring the federal government to reevaluate its role in the development of roads. A group of bicyclists organized the League of American Wheelmen, founding the first of many organizations to promote road improvements as part of the Good Roads Movement. With the motto, “lifting our people out of the