Roads have been an instrumental part of human history for thousands of years. From the first paved Roman roads that crisscrossed Europe, to the modern-day interstate, the history of the road is crucial to our own stories. That is certainly the case for Tennessee as we take a deep dive into the history of our state’s roadways. From the earliest wagon roads that connected the frontier's newest towns, to the essential highways of today upon which Tennessee’s infrastructure, economy, and transportation system depend.

For this episode of Highway See, we’re going to cover the history of our roads from covered wagons and stagecoach to the modern interstate system. Tune in as Chris interviews a wide spectrum of Tennesseans whose insight and historical knowledge pave the way for our journey!

Show Notes

In this episode, host Chris Hill explains the factors of how Tennessee roads came to be.

• The history of Tennessee’s roads
• Early roadways and the “Old Stage Road”
• The Amis Family and their famous road house where Andrew Jackson overnighted
• William Blount and the earliest known piece of mail from the Southwest territory
• Photos of macadam road construction in Rogersville
• Important early roads and the formation of the Tennessee Department of Transportation
• Woodrow Wilson and the “Federal Aid Road Act”
• Dwight D. Eisenhower advancement of the interstate system
• The history of Tennessee’s interstates
• The great American roadtrip as shared by Cecil Cook

Links:

• highwaysee.com: https://highwaysee.com
• Tennessee Infrastructure Alliance: http://tninfrastructure.org/