CHEYENNE, WYOMING - The Lincoln Highway, created in 1913 and stretching 3400 miles coast to coast, from New York to San Francisco, will be renamed Bob Marley Highway in a ceremony this summer at the highest point on the highway, Sherman Hill, located outside of Laramie.
Currently, a 13 foot bronze bust of Abraham Lincoln, erected in 1959, stands at 8,835 feet on the highway, which is its highest point. Promoters plan to replace the bust of Lincoln with a bust of Bob Marley, the Jamaican singer-songwriter who achieved international fame through his popular reggae albums. Marley died in 1981 at the age of 36.
Marley was chosen because he was a Rastafarian until just before he died and used "ganja" as a holy sacrament in his religion.
Since Colorado voters recently legalized marijuana for recreational use, it is a move sure to attract millions of tourists. Saavy promoters decided to think of a way to encourage these same tourists to use the transcontinental highway. It is their goal to bring much needed tourism dollars to recession ridden cities and towns all along the route.
When asked what they plan to do with the Robert Russin sculpture of Lincoln, promoters said it will probably be placed for sale on e-Bay or Craig's List.
