Horatio's Drive: America's First Road Trip

Horatio's Drive: America's First Road Trip is a 2003 documentary film directed by Ken Burns and written by Dayton Duncan. Its subject is the first cross-country automobile journey in the United States, which occurred during the summer of 1903. The documentary focuses primarily on Horatio Nelson Jackson and his Winton car, The Vermont; along with his companions Sewall K. Crocker, his pet pit bull Bud and frequent correspondence with Jackson's wife Bertha Richardson Wells (called "Swipes" by Jackson). The journey became a race among three teams, the winners being Jackson and Crocker.

The documentary has a companion book and audiobook, Horatio's Drive: America's First Road Trip, authored by Dayton Duncan and Ken Burns, published by Knopf in 2003.

Actors and historians

Several noted actors read the lines of various historical figures. They included:

• Keith David - Narrator
• Tom Hanks - Horatio Nelson Jackson

Archival footage of Horatio Nelson Jackson is included.

A series of American university professors of history provided background information.

Music

The soundtrack included a variety of music including some bluegrass instrumentals, and also a modern rendition (by Bobby Horton) of an old song called, "He'd Have to Get Under – Get Out and Get Under (to Fix Up His Automobile)".

External links

• Horatio's Drive: America's First Road Trip at the Internet Movie Database
• PBS page on the documentary