Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-16
COASTAL HIGHWAY
PAVED 2,4OO MILES
iThoroughfare Links Calais
Me-, to Southernmost
American City.
BY HAMILTON M. WRIGHT.

West, Fla, as an all-paved thoroughfare
along the Atlantic seaboard.
This prodfgious accomplishment ha:
been made possible by more than eight
years Of consistent effort upon the par
of hundreds of widely separated COM
munit1es and the expenditure OF mil
lions of dollars.
1t is expected to develop new travel
20 the South in Winter and to the
North in Summer
It not only spans the ocean between
the Florida mainland and Key West, a
distance Of 141 miles over rushing tides
and palm-clad coral keys. but will be
extended by auto ferries between Key
west and Havana to join up with the
Cuban Central Highway. This connec-
ton will give the Atlantic Coastal High
way a total length of 3,100 miles.
It is doubtful If any highway in the
world has ever aroused such tremendous
enthusiasm in the cities through which
1t passes. The picturesque city of Kew
West, Americas southernmost city and
the Gibralter of America, spent $780,
900 through bonds issued by Monroe
County. OF which the city is the capital.
to bring the highway there. Miami, the
Magic City Of Florida. spent $4,000 900
on Biscayne Boulevard clearing away
80 blocks Of stores and buildings to give
q Tine entrance for the Atlantic Coastal
highway to Miami. along the bay in
few months ago opened its great double
bridges across two branches of the Cape
Fear River, costing $3.50 900 to open
the route Of the Atlantic Coastal High
way. The historical old city of Norfolk,
combined with Portmouth and South
Norfolk. community Of nearly 800 900.
has spent over $1o,o0O,000 on new
bridges and ferry systems for an open
sesame for the Atlantic Coastal High
way. The highway now leads into the
Norfolk-Portsmouth area by fine bridges
ana connecting asphalt roads.
Maps Distributed.
Maps by tens Of thousands are dis
tributed to popularize the new route
New accommodations for motorists have
sprung up all along the way. 1t is now
tf1s shortest route between the North
ana south along the Atlantic Coast.
us oevelopment IS tribute to Corpora
1--WE work and to the influence Of the
automobile.
Leaving Calais, Me. the Atlantic
Coastal Highway follows the rock-bound
rev England coast along U. s. Route
NO. !. Here are many views of the
ocean. bays and fishing industries, pine
cIa0 heights and old Maine homes with
houses and barns built together. On it
goes through Portland, past the old
land of the Pilgrims at PLYMOUTH RocE
Boston, Providence, and a score of other
cues being here identified with the
olo Boston Post Road, to New York.
swings inland little via the Lincoln
highway to Philadelphia, and on to
Baltimore and Washington with all
their myriad points of historic, milf
Jary and naval interest.
From Washington across the Potomac
ana near the base Of the George WASH
1ngton National Masonic Memorial AZ
alexandria, on it goes, broad paved
highway through the pine forests of
vrgnlas hills, to Richmond, IO6 miles
from Washington.
From Richmond you can drive down
the north side of the James River
through old Williamsburg, now being
restored to its Colonial aspect by
Jonn .. Rockefeller, jr, to Norfolk.
Or you can drive to Norfolk bv the
Kings Highway, south of the James
River The Kings Highway ~. S. No
l, 70 Petersburg, and Virginia 10 the
remainder Of the way follows the route
Jhe royal post once Travelled through
petersburg, past the bloody battlefield
OF the Crater and Smithfeld, famous
1or Its hams and its delicious food
passing on its way Bacon's Castle, one
OF the most interesting of early Colonial
houses, and old st. Luke's Church, built
IA 1859, the Oldest Protestant Church in
america. Motorists using the Kings
highway enter Norfolk through Ports
mouth and either over the Norfolk
portsmouth Bridge or the NorfoiE.
portsmouth ferry. Or you can 90 from
richmond down the Old Cavalier trail
~. 5. 60), fine, smooth hiehwav
1eaolng through the historic Virginia
peninsula. 80 miles to Newport News
Many traverse the distance in two
tlours. But that is too fast to see the
country The long hills, the lovely
forests, the streams over which 1afav,
ette, CORVALLIS, Mcclellan and Lee and
otner famed leaders Of our Revolution
airy ana Civil Wars led their troops are
LOO intriguing to be passed like a flash.
II traVerses region sure to interest
motorists. Williamsburg, seat of viii
lam ana Mary College and home of the
nrSt Constitutional Assembly in the
american colonies. This city, filled
WIN quaint old mansions, is awakening
after a sleep of centuries to And ITSELF
again In the era of silk stocks, curled
wigs ana stately courtiers, thanks to Mr..
rockefeller. Workmen are already busy
restoring the city to its original Colonial
Splendor. A half an hour or less from
Williamsburg is jamestown, founded in
1oOI, ana In the opposite direction is
Alternative Routes.
AT Newport News, famous for its
huge shipbuilding plant and drydocS
a series OF great bridges and a ferry
oner alternative routes into Norfolk
Inc largest of the bridges is the lanes
River Bridge, a vast steel and concrete
structure, one Of the sights of the coun-
Try ana its main span rising so feet
ABOVE the water, and S miles long. It
9pans me river between the Virginia
PenlnsuIa and the mainland about a
mile from Newport News Other bridges
connected BY fine concrete roads carry
Norfolk --e-'' 'A''o
From Newport News, also, a ferry
operates to Norfolk on a 45-nninute
scneduIe, crossing Hampton Roads and
giving panorama of the ships from
t1e seven ports of the world anchored
mere. Another ferry runs from Old
schedule al t''"i ~
Hlstorlc. yet modern, Norfolk offers
points OF interest for every taste The
huge coal piers and the magnificent
harbor that make it a great world and
naval base; old st. Paul's Church. with
us revolutionary cannon ball in its ivv-
Gao walls; the adjacent beaches with
tneH ooating. fishing and swimming
and the beautiful new Shore Dr;vs
which links Ocean View, third largest
amusement resort in the country with
the vast sand dunes and PICTURESQUE
lighthouses of Cape Henry, and the So
cal gayety Of Virginia Beach offer a
wide choice to the visitor.
From Norfolk you go south by U. s
route II, skirting the famous Dismal
swamp, which George Washington sur
veyeo' and lovely Lake Drummond, with