The Van Buren Sisters Take a Trip

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Please join us as Robert Van Buren tells us the story of his great-aunts in “Across the Great Divide” – The story of two intrepid sisters who rode cross-country on motorcycles in 1916.

Augusta and Adeline Van Buren were born and raised in NYC at a time when women were denied the right to vote. One reason was that women did not serve in the military and therefore had not earned the right. They set out to challenge that belief and prove their competence in a grueling 5,500 mile motorcycle journey from NYC to California.  After completing this hazardous ride, they would enlist in the US Army as dispatch riders in the upcoming and inevitable war emerging in Europe in 1916. This presentation will take you through their experiences during the summer of 1916 with original photography from the sister’s trip dovetailed with photos from the 2016 Centennial Ride. The sisters were way ahead of their time and their story is one of courage, dedication, and patriotism.