Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
Wilderness Road
The Wilderness Road was the principal route used by American and immigrant settlers into and across Kentucky for more than fifty years. In 1775, Daniel Boone blazed a trail for the Transylvania Company from Fort Chiswell through the Cumberland Gap into central Kentucky. It was later lengthened following prehistoric trails to reach the Falls of the Ohio at Louisville. The trail was steep and rough, and could only be traversed by foot or on horseback. Still thousands passed over it to new homes. In 1792, the new Kentucky legislature provided money to upgrade the road. In 1796, an improved all-weather road was opened for wagon and carriage travel. Kentucky abandoned the road in 1840 although modern highways follow much of its route.
10-26-2009 08:16:03
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The contents of this article is licensed from www.wikipedia.org under the GNU Free Documentation License. Click here to see the transparent copy and copyright details