In the first years of the 20th century, only the very wealthy could afford automobiles and of these select few, only the most daring undertook the long and difficult journey across the country. In 1903, Dr. Horatio Nelson and Sewall Crocker made the first successful transcontinental journey from San Francisco to New York in 63 days and 15 hours. Alice Huyler-Ramsey became the first woman to drive across the country when she made the journey with 3 female companions in 1909.