US Highway 50

The Lake Tahoe Wagon Road

Background

US 50 has the distinction of being one of the last transcontinental highways to remain intact. It is also a very historic route that has played a key role in the development of the US West. Most notably, it was the first state highway in California when it was incorporated into the system in 1895 as the "Lake Tahoe Wagon Road." It also formed the western portion of the historic Lincoln Highway, the first true transcontinental highway route. Most people know it by its title, "The Loneliest Road in America." The State of Nevada is proud enough of this distinction to have created markers on the road to signify this fact. However, it is important to remember that it is only the stretch through Nevada that is lonely; as the magazine cover attests, US 50 tells the story of America. The authors of the accompanying article followed it from coast to coast and used it as a backdrop for their story. It is easy to see how US 50 has endured as one of the most interesting of the historic highways that goes through California and the United States.

50-time_magazine_cover.jpg (16675 bytes)

US 50 featured on Time Magazine.1
©1997, Time-Warner

US 50 At A Glance

Original Routing

US 50 started in San Francisco at the intersection of Harrison and 10th Streets and went over the Bay Bridge to Oakland. From there it followed the general route of I-580, I-205, I-5 and SR-99 to Sacramento. Beyond Sacramento, US 50 has been built as freeway/expressway along new alignments, though east of Placerville it closely follows it's original routing through the Sierras, with the high point still being Echo Summit.

Outside of California, US 50 is mostly separated from Interstates which has allowed it to retain many of its older characteristics. It crosses through the heart of the United States and offers a complete taste of all this country has to offer. A highlight is that along with US 1 it goes along both sides of the Capitol Mall in Washington, D.C.

Current Status Outside of California

Almost all of US 50 remains outside of California save for the sections that have been rerouted along Interstate Highways. A part of US 50 east of Washington, D.C. has been designated as I-595. However, the indication is that it will remain signed as US 50; the Interstate designation was used primarily as a means of funding the freeway improvements for that section. Its eastern terminus continues to be and will remain North Division St and the Boardwalk in Ocean City, MD. Thanks to Mark Eisner for the information about the East Coast portion.

Current Status in California

US 50 is one of the few US highways to have been kept intact in California. At one point it had extended to San Francisco, but with the completion of its successor Interstate Highways in the early 1970s, its terminus was brought back to Sacramento. Interestingly its terminus in West Sacramento at I-80 is close to the original one in 1926. While many parts of the old road have been incorporated into the Interstate Highways that replaced it, there are still many sections remaining all along its route that are worthy of attention.

Intersections With Other US Highways

*"US 50A" is not an actual state operated US highway nor is it an AASHTO approved route. It is included due to the novelty of it being signed exactly like a California state or US route.

US 50 Guide

The US 50 Guide will have detailed descriptions of its old routings and what remains today.

US 50 Photo Album

Future

Other US 50 Pages

Since US 50 was such an important road, there are several web pages dealing with it.

[Historic Highways Logo]
Go to the Historic California US Highways Main Page

If you have any questions, comments, or if you would like to send me any updates or pictures, please contact me at: casey@gbcnet.com.
 
http://www.gbcnet.com/ushighways/US50.html

1 The cover is (c)1997 by Time Warner and all their rights are reserved.