The National Road, commonly known as US 40, is one of Indiana's most historic transportation routes. Construction on the road began in 1828, and it played an integral part in shaping the history of the Hoosier State. Humphrey shows that, though interstate travel has somewhat made US 40 'the road less traveled, ' it is still a treasured landmark, filled with thriving communities and historical aspects for travelers to appreciate. -- adapted from back cover.

The history of America is written over every mile of the National Road in Pennsylvania. The original National Road can be traced to Native American trails. George Washington, Gen. Edward Braddock, and James Burd converted portions of Native American trails into a roadway suitable for military purposes and westward expansion. Then came the National Road, built in the early 1800s to accommodate increased traffic traveling westward on the existing road. It was the first federally built road in the United States. Alternately called the National Pike and the Cumberland Road, the National Road was overlaid by segments of U.S. Route 40 in the 1920s. Today, the National Road is designated as a National Scenic Byway as well as an All-American Road. From Addison to West Alexander, The National Road in Pennsylvania contains images of important historic sites and towns on the ninety-mile stretch of highway. The defeat of Col. George Washington's troops at Fort Necessity spawned the French and Indian War. One of the most famous instigators of the Whiskey Rebellion, David Bradford, built his home alongside the National Road. The first cast-iron bridge in America was built on the National Road in Brownsville. The road is flanked by toll houses, coal mines, historic taverns, and automobile camps. One will find images of an S-bridge, mile markers, and memorials relating to the history of the area.

You died and now a Voice asks you to recall the most important aspects of the life you just lived. What do you mention? Who do you include? Do you leave things out? What do you try to hide? What will be your story? John Casper died, and the Voice asked him to recall the most important aspects of the life he just lived. What did he include? What did he leave out or try to hide? As John recounts the important parts of his 78 years, his life seems ordinary at first. The Voice gently nudges him way from the safety of some of his memories. Away from the inconsequential, toward situations, people, and decisions that actually mattered. John would much rather forget some of these. The result is a story filled with hope, despair, romance, grief, and joy. Born in 1857, the son of German immigrants, John was an Indiana farmer who married a woman he loved deeply. Together, they created family traditions that strengthened their marriage and nurtured each of their children. They maintained close ties with their extended family, the German Reformed Church, and their neighbors on nearby farms. Among their 12 children were two sons, Irvy and Pete, who played especially powerful roles in John's life. Irvy wasn't at all like other boys. He was nurturing and kind, thoughtful and loving. John fretted that Irvy was probably "different" and wondered how to protect this son from the cruelty of the outside world. Pete created chaos and pain for everyone around him. John and his wife struggled to channel Pete toward a happier, less violent path. This is John Casper's remarkable story.

The Indiana National Road Association hopes the photographs and stories within this book will give readers an appreciation for the 200-year past of the Historic National Road, often called "The Road that Built the Nation." This federally designated All-American Road retains much of the integrity from its early days as a pioneer corridor. It is important for people to learn about these stories and about those who lived and worked along the road so that they can understand more about both themselves and the importance of preserving the highway. This volume looks at the section of the road from Richmond to Indianapolis.

The bicentennial of Indiana’s statehood in 2016 is the perfect time for Hoosiers of all stripes to hit the road and visit sites that speak to the nineteenth state’s character. In her book, Andrea Neal has selected the top 100 events/historical figures in Indiana history, some well-known like George Rogers Clark, and others obscured by time or memory such as the visit of Marquis de Lafayette to southern Indiana. These highly readable essays and photographs that accompany them feature a tourist site or landmark that in some way brings the subject to life. This will enable interested Hoosiers to travel the entire state to experience history at firsthand. Related activities and sites include nature hikes, museums, markers, monuments, and memorials. The sites appear in chronological order, beginning with the impact of the Ice Age on Indiana and ending with the legacy of the bicentennial itself.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.