This week marks the anniversary of amazing feats by three trailblazing women. On July 5, 1916, sisters Augusta and Adeline Van Buren set off on an incredible journey and began the first successful transcontinental motorcycle tour across the U.S. by two women on solo motorcycles. They rode 5,500 miles in 60 days often over unpaved roads while traveling from NYC to Tijuana, Mexico.
The entrance of the U.S. into WWI inspired the sisters' feat as they sought to prove that women could ride as well as men and were capable of serving as military dispatch riders. The women dressed in military-style leggings and leather riding breeches which were taboo at that time for women and, as a result, they were arrested several times along the way for wearing men's clothing. Yet, these two inspirational trailblazers were undaunted. As Augusta famously once stated, “Woman can if she will.”
For a great article and photos about their journey, visit the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame page dedicated to them. To read about more women who broke barriers on air, sea, and land, visit our transportation section.
On July 6,1957, the second featured trailblazer, Althea Gibson, became the first black player - either female or male - to win at Wimbledon. Gibson, who was known as the "the Jackie Robinson of tennis" for breaking that sport's color barrier, was also the first black player, that same year, to win a Grand Slam event, the French Open. Throughout her career, she collected 11 Grand Slam titles, including the U.S. Open. In 1971, she was inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame.
If you'd like to introduce your children to this inspirational athlete and civil rights pioneer, there are two wonderful picture books about her life: Nothing But Trouble: The Story of Althea Gibson and Playing To Win: The Story Of Althea Gibson.
To read about more athlete role models, visit our role model or sports sections.
