100 Years Ago, Two Sisters Rode Their Indian Motorcycles Across America

By Adam Pockross - April 20, 2016

van buren sisters

A transcontinental trip across the United States is no easy feat today, forget about a century ago, 40 years before the Interstate Highway System.

And that trip would be even more challenging for women in 1916 — not because a woman isn’t just as capable of such a journey as a man, but because women weren’t even allowed to vote until 1920. So times were tough, equality wise; women travelling without men back then were viewed with downwardly moral eyebrows. And women on motorcycles? Even more so.

Still, that didn’t stop two sisters, Adeline (Addie) and Augusta (Gussie) Van Buren, from driving their 1,000cc Indian Power Plus motorcycles from New York to California. In fact, it motivated them.

According to Hemmings, the sisters, descendants of U.S. President Martin Van Buren, did the ride to support the rights of women. They “believed that women were just as capable as men in being dispatch riders for the military. Furthermore, by demonstrating that women could participate in the war effort, even in a non-combat role, the sisters believed this would eliminate one oft-repeated reason for disallowing women the right to vote.”

To commemorate the historic journey, from July 3-23, the Sisters Centennial Motorcycle Ride will be retracing the Van Buren’s epic transcontinental trip. The ride will travel from New York City to San Francisco in the sister’s footsteps, not just for a wonderful adventure, but also for wonderful causes that promote women’s rights and riding.