The Wilderness Road, running from northeast Tennessee through the Cumberland Gap, was the main thoroughfare from 1775 to 1820 for Americans heading west into the new promised lands of Kentucky. The pathway, blazed by Daniel Boone, was our nation’s first migration highway, but the trip was not for the faint of heart.

Tom Hand, creator and publisher of Americana Corner, explores how western migration allowed our young nation to expand its boundaries and begin to harvest the region’s incredible riches, and why it still matters today. Read Tom’s blog to learn more.

Photo Credits:
National Park Service
North Carolina State Archives
Library of Congress
Britannica Online
New York Public Library
Yale University Art Gallery