The Van Wert County Courthouse

Thursday, Mar. 28, 2024

Bill creates Lincoln Highway license plate

VW Area CVB information

Soon area residents will be able to support the Ohio portion of the Lincoln Highway (the Ohio Lincoln Historic Byway) and show their pride for America’s first coast-to-coast road as they drive.

On May 14, Senate Bill 339 was introduced by Senator Cliff Hite of Findlay and co-sponsored by six other state senators whose districts include the historic byway. The bill will authorize the Ohio Department of Motor Vehicles to produce and make available for sale a special license plate recognizing the importance of this highway.

While the Ohio Legislature works to pass this bill, the Lincoln Highway Association needs local residents’ commitment now to purchase one or more of the special license plates. Once the bill is signed, Lincoln Highway supports will need to reserve 500 license plates in order to put the plates into production.  The fee is like all other Ohio special plates — $30 additional to the regular plate cost.

Lincoln Highway license plate 9-2014Area residents may also keep their personalized plates, provided the maximum number of characters (letters, numbers and spaces) totals no more than six, or six characters and a space.

The Van Wert Area Convention and Visitors Bureau’s office (136 E. Main St.) and the Delphos Public Library (309 W. Second St.) have the forms people need to sign to reserve their special Lincoln Highway license plates. The form will ask for purchasers’ names, addresses, phone numbers, their current license plate numbers and their Ohio driver’s license card number.

There is no cost at this time, but by signing the form, people are making a commitment to purchase the plate when it becomes available. Statewide, 500 names are needed by October 31. Bureau office hours are Monday-Friday, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.  The Delphos Public Library opens each day at 9 a.m., except Wednesdays when it opens at noon.

The Lincoln Highway was the first automobile road across the United States.  It began in Times Square in New York City and ended in Lincoln Park in San Francisco, California.  It enters Ohio near East Liverpool in Columbiana County and leaves the state in Van Wert County. Locally, it follows the southern edge of the Great Black Swamp — also known as the Van Wert-Delphos Road.

During the early days of automobiles, highways were identified by names, not numbers as they are today.  The Lincoln Highway, started in 1913, was named in honor of President Abraham Lincoln and was the first national memorial to the assassinated President.

Proceeds from the sale of the special plates will go to preserve and promote portions of the highway that stretch across Ohio.  The goal is to build an awareness of the Lincoln Highway throughout the state.

The travel and tourism segment of the local economy is already benefitting from the renewed interest in the route. Following the August Lincoln Highway Yard Sale weekend, the Van Wert Area Convention and Visitors Bureau distributed surveys to area vendors asking for a summary of their experiences.  Respondents reported between 10,000 and 15,000 shoppers on Thursday and Friday of the sale, with travelers coming from 24 different states, as well as Canada. The surveys also indicated shoppers spent in excess of $35,000 while purchasing items at area sales.

POSTED: 09/27/14 at 7:31 am. FILED UNDER: News