Peter Jenkins (born August 7, 1951) is an American travel author known for walking from
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
New York may also refer to:
Film and television
* '' ...
to
Oregon
Oregon () is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of it ...
between October 1973 and January 1979 while writing a bestselling book, ''
A Walk Across America''.
Early life and education
Jenkins is a graduate of
Alfred University
Alfred University is a private university in Alfred (village), New York, Alfred, New York. It has a total undergraduate population of approximately 1,600 students. The university hosts the New York State College of Ceramics, which includes The ...
, with a
BFA in
Sculpture
Sculpture is the branch of the visual arts that operates in three dimensions. Sculpture is the three-dimensional art work which is physically presented in the dimensions of height, width and depth. It is one of the plastic arts. Durable sc ...
/
Ceramics (1973), as well as an
honorary doctorate
A doctorate (from Latin ''docere'', "to teach"), doctor's degree (from Latin ''doctor'', "teacher"), or doctoral degree is an academic degree awarded by universities and some other educational institutions, derived from the ancient formalism ''l ...
(2003).
Walk across America
Jenkins began his walk across America in
Alfred, New York
Alfred is a town in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 4,896 at the 2020 census.
The Town of Alfred has a village named Alfred in the center of the town.
Alfred University and Alfred State College are located in th ...
in October 1973. He was accompanied by his dog, Cooper, a half
Alaskan malamute
The Alaskan Malamute () is a large breed of dog that was originally bred for its strength and endurance to haul heavy freight as a sled dog and hound. It is similar to other arctic breeds such as the husky, the spitz, the Greenland Dog, Canad ...
that died in an accident with a water truck at
The Farm in Tennessee.
Upon reaching the end of his southward trek in New Orleans, Louisiana, Jenkins found a new companion, Barbara Jo Pennell, who became his second wife and accompanied him on his walk west. He finished the journey in
Florence, Oregon in January 1979.
''
National Geographic
''National Geographic'' (formerly the ''National Geographic Magazine'', sometimes branded as NAT GEO) is a popular American monthly magazine published by National Geographic Partners. Known for its photojournalism, it is one of the most widely ...
'' magazine became interested in his walk after Jenkins and Cooper stopped in at the magazine's offices while walking through
Washington, D.C.
)
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...
Jenkins' walk experience was featured twice in the magazine: "Walk Across America" in April 1977, and "Walk Across America: Part II" in August 1979.
[
In 2012, Jenkins returned home from a 2-year drive across America in a 1957 Chevy station wagon.
]
Personal life
Jenkins resides in Spring Hill, Tennessee.
Works
*'' A Walk Across America'' (1979)
*''The Walk West'' (1981)
*''Journey into China'' (1982)
*''The Tennessee Sampler'' (1985)
*''Across China'' (1986)
*''The Road Unseen'' (1987)
*''Close Friends'' (1989)
*''Along the Edge of America'' (1995)
*''The Untamed Coast'' (1995)
*''Looking for Alaska'' (2001)
References
External links
Peter Jenkins' Facebook page
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jenkins, Peter
American travel writers
American male non-fiction writers
Living people
Alfred University alumni
1951 births
People from Spring Hill, Tennessee