America's First Interstate cover art

America's First Interstate

The National Road, 1806–1853

Preview

Try for $0.00
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo + applicable taxes after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

America's First Interstate

Written by: Roger Pickenpaugh
Narrated by: Scott Carrico
Try for $0.00

$14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $25.00

Buy Now for $25.00

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Tax where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

The National Road was the first major improved highway in the United States built by the federal government. Built between 1811 and 1837, this 620-mile road connected the Potomac and Ohio Rivers and was the main avenue to the West. Roger Pickenpaugh’s comprehensive account is based on detailed archival research into documents that few scholars have examined, including sources from the National Archives, and details the promotion, construction, and use of this crucially important thoroughfare.

America’s First Interstate looks at the road from the perspective of westward expansion, stagecoach travel, freight hauling, livestock herding, and politics of construction as the project goes through changing presidential administrations. Pickenpaugh also describes how states assumed control of the road once the US government chose to abandon it, including the charging of tolls. His data-mining approach—revealing technical details, contracting procedures, lawsuits, charges and countercharges, local accounts of travel, and services along the road—provides a wealth of information for scholars to more critically consider the cultural and historical context of the Road’s construction and use.

While most of America’s First Interstate covers the early days during the era of stagecoach and wagon traffic, the story continues to the decline of the road as railroads became prominent, its rebirth as US Route 40 during the automobile age, and its status in the present day.

The book is published by The Kent State University Press. The audiobook is published by University Press Audiobooks.

“One highly readable volume...fills a serious gap in our literature about early American highways.” (John L. Larson, author of Laid Waste!)

“This will now be the go-to text for anyone wishing to learn about the long history of the nation’s first major highway.” (Lindsay Schakenbach Regele, author of Manufacturing Advantage)

©2020 The Kent State University Press (P)2023 Redwood Audiobooks
Engineering United States Transportation Ohio
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What listeners say about America's First Interstate

Average Customer Ratings

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.