The historic Lincoln Highway, the nation's first paved transcontinental highway, bisects Van Wert County from east to west. This highway, conceived in 1913, played an important role in the Good Roads movement, which paved the way for the development of a nationwide network of highways that is unsurpassed today. Van Wert celebrates its association with the Lincoln Highway in many and various ways. The Lincoln Highway Country Store is an authorized dealer for Lincoln Highway merchandise (magnets, hats, shirts, cups, spoons, decals, clocks, books, stickers, and license plates). They also specialize in handmade craft items, such as sun catchers, snowpeople, bears, angels, wood items, and grapevine trees. They carry a large selection of silk flowers and cemetery saddles.