A sign shows the historic route of Lincoln Highway through La Porte. Photo by Matt Fritz
A sign shows the historic route of Lincoln Highway through La Porte. Photo by Matt Fritz
La PORTE — With hopes of attracting more tourists, road travelers and developers, Indiana has designated Lincoln Way as part of a new state byway, an honor recognizing its historical character and importance to the region.

And the honor ends two years of work for the Indiana Lincoln Highway Association, a group who’s been trying to get more recognition for the roadway, which was part of the original 1913 route of the nation’s first transcontinental roadway, linking New York City to California.

“It’s gratifying to see it finally done,” said association member and La Porte resident Jim Bevins, who worked on the original survey identifying the roadway’s routes in La Porte and Starke County, which used to be known as Lincoln Highway.

A former INDOT employee, he said he became interested in the highway partly because of its name (it was named after Abraham Lincoln) and partly because of its history.

It was used by travelers from all over the country, including a military convoy trip in 1919 with Lt. Col. Dwight D. Eisenhower.

The Indiana portion of the highway (which passes through New Carlisle and Westville) is now part of the Indiana Byways Program, which preserves, protects, enhances and recognizes transportation corridors of unique character, guaranteeing the legacy of Lincoln Way into the future.

But the process of getting it there wasn’t necessarily an easy one for the organization. Bevins said it cost his group about $5,000 for all the right designs and paperwork, and then the process came at a standstill when INLHA tried to get approval from the Michiana Area Council of Governments in South Bend.

Members then reached out to Mike Seitz, president of the Greater La Porte Chamber of Commerce, who, familiar with the organization, helped them through the process.

He said the designation is a great thing for the area.

“It’s a historic highway with a historic background,”Seitz said. “This designation will celebrate its history, and, I would think, be helpful for tourism in La Porte and all the communities along the byway.”

According to a press released from the INLHA, the organization will now form the Indiana Lincoln Highway Byway Council with representatives from across the state to help oversee the development of a corridor management plan.

With this new byway, it also hopes to benefit the state through tourism, preservation and economic development.

The organization has been working with the Indiana Department of Tourism and the Greater La Porte Chamber of Commerce to lure more travelers to the La Porte area, encourage them to stay in local hotels, motels and bed and breakfasts, and to shop at local businesses.

The new byway will also be illustrated in the next issue of Indiana Tourism maps, which are available to travelers across the state.

The Lincoln Highway route in Indiana was changed in 1926, and now follows U.S. 30. The former route was renamed Lincoln Way, the same road traveling through La Porte County.

Bevins said his organization has also gotten approval to build a kiosk commemorating the roadway. It will be located in front of the chamber of commerce building off Michigan Avenue.
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