1909 Glidden Tour

The 1909 Glidden tour "brought out that we are in the gasoline era."-- Motor Age, July 22, 1909, p.21.

Midwest farmers witnessed first-hand the utility of the automobile in their environment. The Glidden torus stimulated a market that Henry Ford exploited!

 View of Dai H. Lewis and motorists posing with E-M-F car on muddy rural road during the pathfinding expedition for the 1909 Glidden Tour. "E-M-F A.A.A. official Glidden Tour pathfinder" sign displayed on car. Handwritten on back: "1909 Glidden Tour, Detroit to Denver, what's a little winter among friends? Tours--Glidden Tour Pathfinder, 1909.

View of motorists in E-M-F car passing the Ypsilanti Water Tower, also known as the Ypsilanti Water Works Stand Pipe, during the pathfinding expedition for the 1909 Glidden Tour. Handwritten on back: "E.M.F. '30', 1909. This car used by Dai H. Lewis, secretary of the A.A.A. and his party, mapped out the official route to be followed by the Glidden Tour from Detroit, Mi. to Denver, Co. Photo by William Krohn, rep. of Lazarnick. Tours--Glidden Tour Pathfinder, 1909."

View of motorists in E-M-F car passing rock formation near Wonewoc, Wisconsin during the pathfinding expedition for the 1909 Glidden Tour. Handwritten on back: "Rock formation near Wonewoc, Wisconsin. 1909 Glidden Tour, Detroit to Denver, sometimes the scenery was beautiful. Tours--Glidden Tour Pathfinder, 1909.

View of a crowd of people standing under the entry way of the Pontchartrain Hotel with sign "Glidden Tour Starts From Here," Detroit, Michigan, 1909. Stamped on back: "Spooner & Wells, Inc., photographers, telephones 3472-3473 Columbus, 1931 Broadway, New York."

View of Charles Glidden standing in vehicle, an American flag on the car, one man seated beside him talking with a man and two men on the side of car, in Mankato, Minnesota, at the 1909 Glidden Tour. Damage to negative apparent on left side of photo. Photo edges cut unevenly

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View of Charles Glidden and Glidden tourist with straw hats, tourist has various medals on his shirt, in front of the Antlers Hotel. Caption on photo back: "Chas. Glidden decked out in the customary head regalia of the West, Colorado Springs," at the 1909 Glidden Tour.

View of Jean Bemb, John Williams and Walter Winchester posed together in Kansas City, Missouri, at the 1909 Glidden Tour. Caption on photo back: "Three winning drivers of the 1909 Glidden Tour." Photo edges cut unevenly.

View of a crowd of people standing under the entry way of the Pontchartrain Hotel with sign "Glidden Tour Starts From Here," Detroit, Michigan, 1909. Stamped on back: "Spooner & Wells, Inc., photographers, telephones 3472-3473 Columbus, 1931 Broadway, New York."