The Lincoln Highway was the first transcontinental highway in the United States, running from New York City to San Francisco. Along its route, the highway passed through a number of small towns, many of which developed as important transportation hubs and centers of commerce. The architecture of these towns, including their historic buildings, hotels, and gas stations, reflects the influence of the highway and the changing patterns of travel and development in the United States. In many cases, the Lincoln Highway roughly followed the route of US Route 30, which was later established as a parallel route.