Yellowstone Trail Sociability Run in Wisconsin June 2-3

Explore the history of Wisconsin's portion of the Yellowstone Trail by joining the dawn-to-dusk Tin Lizzie Sociability Run between Hudson and Marshfield the weekend of June 2-3.

What is the Yellowstone Trail? In 1912, motorists wanted to travel long distances. But where were the roads to take Easterners to Yellowstone National Park or even to the next state? The Yellowstone Trail traversed 13 northern states, from “Plymouth Rock to Puget Sound,” as their motto read. They did not build roads with pick and shovel. They persuaded county governments to put their road tax dollar into one road which met one single road from the next county. Bit by bit they pieced together a 3,600-mile route. They charged membership dues of individuals and towns along the Trail and, in return, gave them advertising and tourists. The prospect of being on a coast-to-coast highway was so popular that towns fought to pay dues and be on it.

To promote their efforts, members of the Yellowstone Trail Association invited Tin Lizzie owners to travel together on country roads in a social motoring event in June 1912 -- the first "Sociability Run." Now, a century later, Trail supporters are holding events to call attention to a historic monument that might lie in your neighborhood!

Participants in the Wisconsin Sociability Run can pick their start and stop locations, jumping on the nearest Yellowstone Trail route. Between Hudson and Marshfield, there will be pieces of history to explore and events to enjoy.

Thorp Dairy Days will feature a breakfast from 7-11 a.m. Owen will host tours and ice cream at the Woodland Hotel from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Colby's Rural Arts Museum will be open from 1-4 p.m. In Chippewa Falls, there will be a Mid-Day Mid-Way Old-Fashioned Picnic at Irvine Park from noon-2 p.m. Dairyfest in Marshfield will feature activities all day.

For more information, visit www.yellowstonetrail.org.

For a list of overnight accommodations, check out these websites: