In this program we will see how Illinois pulled itself out of the mud and showed the world how to transform Prairie Footpaths into the country's paved crossroads.
Please use this link to enjoy the program: https://youtu.be/lnkqhZh-ONw
Historic Highway of Illinois: From Prairie Footpaths to the Country's Crossroads
As European-origin people began exploring Illinois territory, they found their way across the tall-grass prairie by using trails blazed by indigenous tribes. These trails were named for their destinations (Ottawa Trail, Green Bay, Milwaukee, and Joliet Roads) or prominent early residents (Hubbard's and Edwards' Trace, Ogden and Archer Avenues) These important roads remained only footpaths through the prairie. As the territory became a state, it would become a hub of transportation for the nation. Beginning with the National Road in the early 1800s, through the hard roads of the 1900s, in this program we will see how Illinois pulled itself out of the mud and showed the world how to transform Prairie Footpaths into the country's paved crossroads.
Presented by Historian David Clark.