Road Markers Lead to Indianapolis

This article was published in the May 23, 1911 Indianapolis Sun. This is a one-page, one-column article that focuses on preparations for the first Indianapolis 500. The lead focuses on the fact that there was grandstand seating still available even at this late date. More interesting in my judgment is the revelation that members of the automobile industry marked country roads between Chicago and Indianapolis as well as Louisville and Indianapolis to help people find their way. A National test car was used to mark the way from Chicago and Frank Willis of Studebaker used his personal car, "Old Zeke," to provide guideposts for travelers from Louisville. To fully appreciate the situation, understand that these roads were dirt or, in the best case, crushed stone. Aside from these makeshift signs discussed in this article, there were few direction markers and certainly no lights for night driving. It was a different, far more primitive world.