1913 Glidden Tour The final Glidden Tour was held in 1913 and ran from Minneapolis to Glacier Park.

The 1913 Glidden tour started on June 11 and ran through the 19th. The trip started at Minneapolis with stops at St. Cloud, Alexandria, Fergus Falls, Fargo, and Grand Forks. From there, the Gliddenites continued on to Devil's Lake, Rugby, Minot, Stanley, Williston, Poplar, Glascow, Malta, Harve, Shelvy, and wound up in Glacier Park. The total distance traveled was 1,245 miles. The little cars on this tour made the best showing since they could travel roads which were more or less impassable for the heavier cars. There were twenty-four contestants entered, and seven finished with perfect scores. Actually, ten cars finished with perfect scores; but the three Metz cars and the two Hupmobile cars were considered as one unit per manufacturer since they operated as a team.

The Glidden Tours were discontinued after 1913 -- not because they failed but because they succeeded. The automobile proved a reliable and efficient means of long distance transportation. Mr. Glidden envisioned the Glidden tours as reliability runs for owners of cars. However by 1913, the manufacturers made the most entries; and the tour evolved into a manufacturers' tour rather than an owners' tour. Many individuals probably could afford neither the expense nor the time to participate; although, private owners did compete in all these tours. Whereas, the manufacturers were attracted to the tours as a means for publicity and as a venue for advertising. Many non-contestants also participated.

The Glidden Tours benefited automobile consumers. The public's attention was captivated by the tours; and it became obvious that the automobile was, in fact, a reliable and obtainable method of transportation for the average person. Glidden's vision did much to shape our way of life in America. Manufacturers made needed technical and mechanical improvements to better compete in these tours. No state wanted adverse publicity concerning road conditions in their area, so better roads were constructed to accommodate automobile transportation.

Thank you, Charles Jasper Glidden for your generosity. Your vision encouraged automobile innovation and helped make the automobile the average person's mode of transportation.