1959 Pan American Games torch relay

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Host cityChicago, Illinois, USA
Distance2,203 miles (3,545 km)[1]
Start dateJuly 25, 1959
End dateAugust 27, 1959
Pan American Sports Organization Flag
Part of a series on the
1959 Pan American Games

The torch relay of the 1959 Pan American Games was held between July 25 to August 27, 1959, culminating in the Games' opening ceremony at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois, USA.

The torch was lit on July 25 at Cerro de la Estrella in Mexico City. It was carried 743 miles (1,196 km) across Mexico by members of the Asociación de Scouts de México, reaching the U.S.–Mexican border at Nuevo Laredo and Laredo, Texas on August 4.[1] From there, the torch was carried across the United States to Chicago by members of the Boy Scouts of America. An estimated 3,000 Boy Scouts took part in the relay, each carrying the torch for one "Scout's Pace": 50 paces running followed by 50 steps walking. The torch run was conducted during daylight hours, and each night the torch was put on display.[2][3]

In McAlester, Oklahoma, a local youth stole the torch and threw it in a ditch. The torch itself was damaged, but the relay continued as scheduled the next day.[4] In Alton, Illinois, a support car slipped off an embankment into the Mississippi River. The car was carrying the base on which the torch was to sit overnight, as well as letters of congratulation from city officials along the relay route, which were lost in the incident.[5][6]

The torch itself was symbolic: instead of a burning flame, the "Atomic Torch" consisted of a blue lightbulb surrounded by a chromium-plated model of an atom. The torch was designed by staff at Argonne National Laboratory near Chicago. Upon arrival at Soldier Field, the torch was connected to a string of cesium-137 pellets, which gave off radioactive impulses that were converted into an electrical signal, triggering the lighting of the Friendship Flame cauldron.[2][7][8]

United States route[edit]

Date Locations Map

August 4
August 5
August 6
August 7
August 8
August 9
August 10

Laredo, Texas to Cotulla
Cotulla to Devine[1]
Devine to New Braunfels[9]
New Braunfels to Georgetown
Georgetown to Waco
Waco to Waxahachie[10]
Waxahachie to Melissa[11]

August 11
August 12
August 13
August 14

Melissa to Atoka, Oklahoma[12]
Atoka to McAlester[4]
McAlester to Muskogee[13]
Muskogee to Vinita[14]

August 15
August 16
August 17
August 18
August 19

Vinita to Joplin, Missouri[15]
Joplin to Plano
Plano to Lebanon
Lebanon to St. James
St. James to Pacific[16]

August 20
August 21
August 22
August 23
August 24
August 25
August 26
August 27

Pacific to Alton, Illinois
Alton to Litchfield
Litchfield to Atlanta[17]
Atlanta to Pontiac
Pontiac to Plainfield[18]
Plainfield to La Grange[19]
La Grange to Chicago City Hall
City Hall to Soldier Field

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Area Scouts To Begin Torch Jaunt Friday", Austin Statesman, August 5, 1959, page 15.
  2. ^ a b "III Pan American Games, Official Bulletin", Pan American Sports Organization, 1959, page 12.
  3. ^ "Scouts to Carry the Torch", San Antonio Express and News, August 2, 1959, page 11A.
  4. ^ a b Cathey, Mike. "When the missing torch from 1959 Chicago games was found in McAlester", McAlester News-Capital, July 24, 2021, Web.
  5. ^ "Portion of Torch Equipment Is Lost", Alton Evening Telegraph, August 21, 1959, front page.
  6. ^ Hersh, Phil. "Torch relay set the stage for '59 Pan American Games", Chicago Tribune News Service, via McAllen Monitor, July 26, 1987, page 7B.
  7. ^ "Lemont Boys To Join Pan-Am Torch Relay", The Lemonter, August 20, 1959, front page.
  8. ^ "Torch To Burn During The Pan American Games", Taylorville Daily Breeze-Courier, August 21, 1959, page seven.
  9. ^ "Torch Leaves New Braunfels On Way North", United Press International, via El Paso Herald-Post, August 7, 1959, page seven.
  10. ^ "Pan Am Games Torch Moves On To Waco", Austin American, August 9, 1959, page B-8.
  11. ^ "Collin Troops To Join Scout Relay", McKinney Weekly Democrat-Gazette, August 6, 1959, front page.
  12. ^ "Pan-Am Torch Relay to Come Through Area", The Daily Ardmoreite, August 10, 1959, front page.
  13. ^ "Scouts Speed Torch", Muskogee Times-Democrat, August 11, 1959, page 12.
  14. ^ "Scouts Due Here Friday To Carry Torch Across County", Vinita Leader, August 13, 1959, front page.
  15. ^ "Joplin to Host Pan-Am Torch", Springfield Leader and Press, August 15, 1959, page 3.
  16. ^ "Torch Scouts Near State", Springfield Daily News, August 15, 1959, page 12.
  17. ^ "Olympic Torch Holder at Bottom of Mississippi", Belleville News-Democrat, August 21, 1959, front page.
  18. ^ "Scouts On Torch Relay To Pass Through Dwight", Streator Times-Press, August 20, 1959, page 10.
  19. ^ "Pan-Am Torch Coming to Community", Berwyn Life, August 23, 1959, front page and page 2.
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