A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE JEFFERSON DAVIS HIGHWAY

Mrs. Alexander B. White, President General, United Daughters of the Confederacy, first proposed the creation of a Jefferson Davis Highway at the Organization’s General Convention held in New Orleans in November 1913.  In her report, Mrs. White recommended:  “That the United Daughters of the Confederacy secure for an ocean to ocean highway from Washington, D.C. to San Diego, California through the Southern States, the name of ‘Jefferson Davis National Highway’, the same to be beautified and historic places on it suitably and permanently marked.”  The recommendation was adopted and endorsed.
Projects incorporated into the first plan were the Georgia historic route taken by President Davis and his party after the fall of Richmond, ending with his capture in Irwinville, and the route from his birthplace of Fairview, Kentucky.  The United Daughters of the Confederacy were very instrumental in beautifying and marking historic spots along the route.

In 1938, the Jefferson Davis Highway extended its route from San Diego going north along the Pacific Coast Highway through California and Oregon into the state of Washington. 
 
In 1998, there were seven markers identified in Louisiana.  As of 2008, there are only six. 

The Southern Route of the Jefferson Davis Highway markers is:  US-90 from the state line of Mississippi at the Pearl River, through New Orleans, then US-61 to Baton Rouge, continuing over US-190 (which was the old Route 7) into Opelousas.  The route continues over old Route 40 to Crowley, then on US-90 to Jennings to the Sabine River and into Texas. 

The Northern Route is:  I-55 from its intersection with I-10 to the state line of Mississippi, headed toward Fairview, Kentucky, the birthplace of Jefferson Davis.

Along these routes, the markers may be found in:

• Gretna - Near Gretna City Hall 
  
• New Orleans – Canal Street at North Jefferson Davis Parkway                 
• Baton Rouge – near the school on Government Street at Eugene Street                    
• Baton Rouge – 555 Government Street                     
• Livingston – on US-190, in Livingston, 20 miles east of Baton Rouge
• Kentwood - Louisiana Welcome Center - I-55
  

                       

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