History

Horatio's Drive

In the spring of 1903, on a whim and a fifty-dollar bet, Dr. Horatio Nelson Jackson set off from San Francisco in a 20-horsepower Winton touring car hoping to become the first person to cross the United States in the new-fangled "horseless carriage." Most people doubted that the automobile had much of a future. Jackson's trip would prove them wrong.

Horatio's Drive

1h 46m

In the spring of 1903, on a whim and a fifty-dollar bet, Dr. Horatio Nelson Jackson set off from San Francisco in a 20-horsepower Winton touring car hoping to become the first person to cross the United States in the new- fangled "horseless carriage." Most people doubted that the automobile had much of a future.

Episodes

  • Horatio's Drive: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Horatio's Drive

    S1 E1 - 1h 46m

    In the spring of 1903, on a whim and a fifty-dollar bet, Dr. Horatio Nelson Jackson set off from San Francisco in a 20-horsepower Winton touring car hoping to become the first person to cross the United States in the new- fangled "horseless carriage." Most people doubted that the automobile had much of a future.

Extras + Features

  • Lost in Wyoming: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Lost in Wyoming

    S1 - 3m 19s

    After fixing the car in Idaho, Horatio was optimistic that he would make it to Rawlins, WY. They proceeded to get hopelessly lost.

  • San Francisco: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    San Francisco

    S1 - 1m 46s

    On May 23, 1903 Horatio started out in San Francisco on the first American road trip.

  • Bud: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Bud

    S1 - 1m 57s

    Horatio and his driver added a third member to the team in Caldwell, ID, a young bulldog named Bud.

  • Cleveland: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Cleveland

    S1 - 4m 18s

    The Winton Company offered to give Jackson support for the rest of the trip but he refused.

  • Mt. Shasta: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Mt. Shasta

    S1 - 1m 50s

    Horatio drove through beautiful countryside in Northern California.

  • Archer, Wyoming: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Archer, Wyoming

    S1 - 2m 21s

    Horatio was stuck in Archer, Wyoming waiting for parts and missing his wife on their 4th anniversary.

  • New York: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    New York

    S1 - 4m 9s

    They crossed the Hudson at Albany to a cheering crowd and met up with reporters and Mrs. Horatio Jackson in Peekskill. They drove into Manhattan at 4:30 in the morning.

WETA Passport

Stream tens of thousands of hours of your PBS and local favorites with WETA Passport whenever and wherever you want. Catch up on a single episode or binge-watch full seasons before they air on TV.