The Bankhead Highway was a United States cross-country automobile highway connecting Washington, D.C., and San Diego. The Bankhead Highway's beginnings can be traced back to 1916 when the Bankhead Highway Association was organized to promote the highway's development. It was part of the National Auto Trail system. The road was named for Alabama politician John H. Bankhead, a leader in the early national road-building movement. In later years, several stretches of U.S. Route 78 in northwest Alabama were renamed for Bankhead's son, former U.S. Representative and Speaker of the House William B. Bankhead.
Route description
As was common with early auto trails, the Bankhead Highway had several different routes. The main and branch routes below are considered to be the primary configurations of the highway.
California
The route followed the former US 80 from San Diego and through La Mesa, El Cajon, and El Centro before crossing into Arizona. This section of the Bankhead Highway is now a California state historic highway.
Arizona
In Arizona, the route followed what is Interstate 8 today from the California state line. Continuing as former US 80, it followed through Gila Bend and smaller towns on the west side of Phoenix. It then went through Phoenix on Van Buren Street then Tempe and Mesa. It then followed US 60 and then Arizona State Route 79 to Arizona State Route 77 to Tucson.
New Mexico
(For details on the branch routes in New Mexico, see branch route and third route entries for Texas/New Mexico).
In New Mexico, the Bankhead route followed the former US 80 (now I-10 from Arizona and then through Las Cruces.
Texas
In June 2009 the Bankhead Highway was designated a Texas Historic Highway as part of the state's Historic Roads and Highways Program. The purpose of this designation is to supplement the Texas Historical Commission's existing "heritage tourism" programs and to increase interest in the Bankhead Highway.
Main Route
The primary route through Texas was originally Texas Highway No.1, which became part of U.S. Route 67 and former U.S. Route 80. The main route was followed by Interstate 10 and then Interstate 20 from El Paso to Fort Worth. It also passed through smaller cities as US 80 such as Odessa and Midland. From Fort Worth, the route left former US 80 and went through Garland and Texarkana before crossing into Arkansas.
Branch Route (also includes New Mexico)
The branch route entered Texas on US 62, then turned onto US 70 at Paducah. The route went through eastern New Mexico, first at Alamogordo on US 54, then through Roswell and then Clovis before entering Texas at El Paso. The branch route rejoined the main one at El Paso.
Third Route
A third route connected the main and branch routes in western Texas and eastern New Mexico. This route followed the current US 380 from Roswell, New Mexico to Post and then followed US 84.
Oklahoma
Branch Route
In Oklahoma, the branch route followed US 62 at Lawton from Texas. Then it followed US 70 to US 81 to Oklahoma State Highway 7 in rural parts of the state.
Arkansas
The route passed through Little Rock on US 70. At Hot Springs, travelers were given two options (alternate routes were common on auto trails).
Main Route
The main route followed US 67 from Texarkana and went through Arkadelphia and then followed Arkansas Highway 7.
Branch Route
The branch route followed US 70 from Oklahoma to Hot Springs.
Tennessee
Bankhead's route entered Tennessee followed US-70 from Arkansas to Memphis. In Memphis, the route followed US 78.
Mississippi
North Branch
North branch went from the south branch on Interstate 22/US 78 in Tupelo and then to Mooreville, Fulton and then Tremont before crossing into Alabama.
South Branch
South branch went from Tupelo on MS 6, then to Plantersville, Nettleton, Bigbee, and then Amory. It then followed US 278 south of Hatley and then Splunge before crossing into Alabama.
North branch to Tupelo
The route went from Olive Branch along US 78, then I-22 through Byhalia, Victoria, Red Banks, Holly Springs, Winborn, Hickory Flat, Myrtle, New Albany, Blue Springs, and then Sherman.
South branch from Tupelo
The route followed MS 305 from Olive Branch, Lewisburg, and Independence. Then it went on MS 310 around Sardis Lake and then MS 7 down to Oxford and then followed US 278 to Tupelo.
Alabama
The highway took the route of US-78 eastward from Mississippi and through Birmingham, and into Georgia.