By Sara Beth Williams–
For history lovers and travel enthusiastic, a new historical placard will give residents and visitors a glimpse into the region’s historic past.
A Lincoln Highway placard will be unveiled at a ceremony on Aug. 15 at San Juan High School’s theater, marking the high school as one of the stops along the transcontinental highway that stretched from California to New York.
The ceremony is scheduled for 4 p.m. and will include multiple speakers from the Lincoln Highway Association California Chapter, Citrus Heights Historical Society, and San Juan High School’s principal.
The placard’s development was made possible through partnerships between the Lincoln Highway Association California Chapter, the San Juan Unified School District facilities team, and the City of Citrus Heights General Services Department, among others.
Andrew Saunders, a representative of the Lincoln Highway Association, said the sign is already fabricated and currently covered with protective plastic. It is mounted on a metal frame, hanging from a lamp post in front of the high school’s office.
The Lincoln Highway, America’s first transcontinental roadway, once routed travelers through areas including Roseville, Citrus Heights, Orangevale, and Fair Oaks. Saunders said the new signage is intended to promote “travel and tourism for points of interest” along the route, encouraging visitors to stop at sites like the historic Rusch Home in Citrus Heights, and others.
Saunders’ vision to bring awareness to the legacy and history of the Lincoln Highway reaches beyond Citrus Heights.
“You come to Roseville, you go down Auburn,” he explained, noting that the route historically connected through Greenback Lane and Madison Avenue before crossing the American River via a 1915 bridge in Folsom.
The effort is part of a larger goal to have the Sacramento–Sierra Historic Lincoln Highway Corridor recognized by the California Tourism Board as a historically significant landmark. Saunders envisions a promotional route highlighting stops in Roseville, Folsom, Citrus Heights, and other communities, linking travelers to downtown Sacramento.
Along the way, historical placards in Orangevale and Fair Oaks are also being connected to the project, with plans to extend markers into Foothill Farms and Arden-Arcade.
“I’ve had really good feedback every time I do a presentation,” Saunders said, expressing optimism that the project will draw more people to Citrus Heights to explore its history.
The ceremony at San Juan High School’s theater will last about an hour and is open to the public. San Juan High School is located at 7551 Greenback Ln.
