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 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. 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."III Pan American Games, Official Bulletin", Pan American Sports Organization, 1959, page 12."Scouts to Carry the Torch", San Antonio Express and News, August 2, 1959, page 11A.
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.Cathey, Mike. "When the missing torch from 1959 Chicago games was found in McAlester", McAlester News-Capital, July 24, 2021, Web. 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."Portion of Torch Equipment Is Lost", Alton Evening Telegraph, August 21, 1959, front page.Hersh, Phil. "Torch relay set the stage for '59 Pan American Games", Chicago Tribune News Service, via McAllen Monitor, July 26, 1987, page 7B.
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."Lemont Boys To Join Pan-Am Torch Relay", The Lemonter, August 20, 1959, front page."Torch To Burn During The Pan American Games", Taylorville Daily Breeze-Courier, August 21, 1959, page seven.
United States route DateLocationsMapAugust 4 August 5 August 6 August 7 August 8 August 9 August 10Laredo, Texas to Cotulla Cotulla to Devine Devine to New Braunfels"Torch Leaves New Braunfels On Way North", United Press International, via El Paso Herald-Post, August 7, 1959, page seven. New Braunfels to Georgetown Georgetown to Waco Waco to Waxahachie"Pan Am Games Torch Moves On To Waco", Austin American, August 9, 1959, page B-8. Waxahachie to Melissa"Collin Troops To Join Scout Relay", McKinney Weekly Democrat-Gazette, August 6, 1959, front page.August 11 August 12 August 13 August 14Melissa to Atoka, Oklahoma"Pan-Am Torch Relay to Come Through Area", The Daily Ardmoreite, August 10, 1959, front page. Atoka to McAlester McAlester to Muskogee"Scouts Speed Torch", Muskogee Times-Democrat, August 11, 1959, page 12. Muskogee to Vinita"Scouts Due Here Friday To Carry Torch Across County", Vinita Leader, August 13, 1959, front page.August 15 August 16 August 17 August 18 August 19Vinita to Joplin, Missouri"Joplin to Host Pan-Am Torch", Springfield Leader and Press, August 15, 1959, page 3. Joplin to Plano Plano to Lebanon Lebanon to St. James St. James to Pacific"Torch Scouts Near State", Springfield Daily News, August 15, 1959, page 12.August 20 August 21 August 22 August 23 August 24 August 25 August 26 August 27Pacific to Alton, Illinois Alton to Litchfield Litchfield to Atlanta"Olympic Torch Holder at Bottom of Mississippi", Belleville News-Democrat, August 21, 1959, front page. Atlanta to Pontiac Pontiac to Plainfield"Scouts On Torch Relay To Pass Through Dwight", Streator Times-Press, August 20, 1959, page 10. Plainfield to La Grange"Pan-Am Torch Coming to Community", Berwyn Life, August 23, 1959, front page and page 2. La Grange to Chicago City Hall City Hall to Soldier Field
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