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

  • 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.

  • 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.

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.

Similar Shows