United States Highway 50 is an east-west transcontinental, coast-to-coast United States highway. Stretching from Maryland to California, the highway  is 3,073 miles long. US 50 serves both Jefferson City, Missouri, and Carson City, Nevada, two of only five state capitals not served by an Interstate highway.

On February 28, 1895 under an act by the state legislature, the Placerville-Carson road was designated as California's first official state road or (route). This road or (route) traveled from the city of Smith Flat (near Placerville) to the Nevada border (Lake Tahoe). The Placerville-Carson Road was renamed the "Lake Tahoe State Wagon Road.”  This is the portion of Highway 50 that this exhibit will chronicle.

Soon after acquiring this road, the State of California began renovation of the old wagon route. This included lane widening and removal of debris.  Construction of an eighty-foot stone arch bridge over the American River at Riverton was completed by 1900. Three granite obelisks were preserved and stand alongside the roadway near the current bridge.

Work started on improving the road in 1899 with a grant of $25,000 from the Legislature for surveying and construction improvements. Over the years the highway was transformed from a dusty road to an oil-covered roadway, until, finally, in the 1920s, a modern two-lane road was completed. 

A committee of federal and state officials signed an agreement at Pinehurst, North Carolina, on November 11, 1926, that designated names for all federal highways in all 48 states. Highways going east to west were given even numbers and highways going north and south were given odd numbers. Major coast-to-coast highways were assigned numbers ending with zero.  As a result, Highway 50 sprang to life.

In Nevada, US 50 is known as "The Loneliest Road in America", due to the bleak terrain and very low traffic. This portion is also home to "The Loneliest Payphone in America". The Nevada division of Highway 50, as well as that over the Sierra Nevada, follows the mid-19th century Pony Express route. For much of this segment, Highway 50 follows the course of South Fork of the American River. It is one of the most beautiful rides in the region.

One of the fascinating elements to look for in the Sierra Nevada is the antique granite milestones that occur along the road.  While there are newer replacements, many of these stone pillars were carved by prisoners at Folsom Prison in the 19th century.  They are often hard to spy as you zip along the road, but the milestones provide an interesting link to the highway’s wagon road origins.

All contemporary photos are by the SNVM staff.  All historic photos are from the Collections of the Online Archive of California, http://www.oac.cdlib.org/