Long before the modern convenience of many miles of well maintained asphalt roads, a “road” was a different thing altogether. So far on Highway See we’ve covered a big picture of the history of Tennessee’s road system. With that in mind, now it is time to start diving into the answers to one crucial question. How did these roads come about? On this episode we’re going to step back into time to get a glimpse, through some invigorating historical documents and commentary, of the earliest days of road building and the communities involved across the state of Tennessee. 

In this episode host Chris Hill guides us through these fascinating early days of roads:
George Webb Reveals Some Fascinating Documents
The First Roads Both Near and Far
The History of Tennessee’s First Roads: The Avery Trace and The Walton Road
The Rise of the Macadam Road
The Beginnings of Tennessee’s Road Administrators
The Rise of the Automobile
The Memphis to Bristol Highway
The State Highway Department and Commission
George’s Great American Road Trip



Links
Learn more about this episode at: https://highwaysee.com
An Act to Cut and Clear a Waggon Road to the Settlements on the Cumberland River in the Mero District: https://teva.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/tfd/id/531/
MacAdamized Roads: https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Loudon-McAdam
Tennessee’s First State Road: https://knoxfocus.com/archives/tennessees-first-state-road/
Tennessee Virtual Archive Memphis to Bristol Highway:https://teva.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15138coll23/id/53/rec/1

Long before the modern convenience of many miles of well maintained asphalt roads, a &ldquo;road&rdquo; was a different thing altogether. So far on Highway See we&rsquo;ve covered a big picture of the history of Tennessee&rsquo;s road system. With that in mind, now it is time to start diving into the answers to one crucial question. How did these roads come about? On this episode we&rsquo;re going to step back into time to get a glimpse, through some invigorating historical documents and commentary, of the earliest days of road building and the communities involved across the state of Tennessee. In this episode host Chris Hill guides us through these fascinating early days of roads:
<ul>
<li>George Webb Reveals Some Fascinating Documents</li>
<li>The First Roads Both Near and Far</li>
<li>The History of Tennessee&rsquo;s First Roads: The Avery Trace and The Walton Road</li>
<li>The Rise of the Macadam Road</li>
<li>The Beginnings of Tennessee&rsquo;s Road Administrators</li>
<li>The Rise of the Automobile</li>
<li>The Memphis to Bristol Highway</li>
<li>The State Highway Department and Commission</li>
<li>George&rsquo;s Great American Road Trip</li>
</ul>
 Links
<ul>
<li>Learn more about this episode at: <a href="https://highwaysee.com">https://highwaysee.com</a></li>
<li>An Act to Cut and Clear a Waggon Road to the Settlements on the Cumberland River in the Mero District: <a href="https://teva.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/tfd/id/531/">https://teva.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/tfd/id/531/</a></li>
<li>MacAdamized Roads: <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Loudon-McAdam">https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Loudon-McAdam</a></li>
<li>Tennessee&rsquo;s First State Road: <a href="https://knoxfocus.com/archives/tennessees-first-state-road/">https://knoxfocus.com/archives/tennessees-first-state-road/</a></li>
<li>Tennessee Virtual Archive Memphis to Bristol Highway:<a href="https://teva.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15138coll23/id/53/rec/1">https://teva.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15138coll23/id/53/rec/1</a></li>
</ul>

How did we get our roads? What prompted their creation? What effort goes into maintaining them? This is Highway See. In every episode, we’ll answer those questions and get you to “see” Tennessee’s highway system for the engineering marvel that it is. Subscribe now, and we’ll see you on the highway!

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