• Fort Ticonderoga, NY
• The Freedom Trail, Boston, MA
• Independence Hall, Philadelphia, PA
• Revolution-themed road trip books
• US Route 20
• Freedom Trail guidebook
• US Route 9
• US Route 7
• US Route 60
• Colonial Williamsburg
• Revolutionary Day Web site
• US Route 202
• Gettysburg

On the Road to History

Thomas Jefferson narrowly escaping the British forces in Charlottesville, VA, Ethan Allen capturing New York's Fort Ticonderoga, George Washington accepting the surrender of Cornwallis in Yorktown, VA, . . . sometimes, you have to wonder how much easier these feats would have been had these heroes been able to get their hands on a sweet set of wheels. These monumental moments in U.S. history might've taken years to stage, but in your car, a weekend will suffice.

For most travelers, tracing the path of America's battle for independence means following the Freedom Trail in Boston, MA, or going to Independence Hall in Philadelphia, PA, but to truly experience the trials and tribulations of the Colonial Army, a car ride along some of America's oldest roads is a must.

"You can really live history," says historian Raymond C. Houghton, who's written several Revolution-themed road trip books. "Not only geographically, but you can also live it chronologically. Boston is great, but why not start in Pittsfield, MA, and follow the path of history along U.S. Route 20, using the Freedom Trail as an end point. Or, follow US Route 9 along the Hudson, and see how the British tried to control the Hudson and end the Revolution. There's so much history along these roads."

Then there's US Route 7, which follows Ethan Allen as he captures Ft. Ticonderoga. And Route 60 won't just take you to Colonial Williamsburg - it'll also lead you to where Thomas Jefferson, then Governor of Virginia, narrowly missed British capture.

Lonnie Chu, a teacher from upstate New York, found Houghton's Web site 2 years ago and decided to take her then 12-year-old son on an educational vacation along US Route 4.

"When we were at Saratoga and Ft. Ticonderoga," says Chu, "he got to experience just how loud a cannon was. Then when one of the guides described an amputation with no anesthesia, he was hooked. It was all real to him. You can't get that in a book."

Following these historic roads is a great start, but choosing one's own destinations is what makes these trips truly special. When exploring the American Revolution on US Route 202 in Maryland and Pennsylvania, leap into the Civil War as well by visiting Gettysburg.

In the end, these historic routes offer not only a fascinating glimpse into our past but also a chance to discover some of America's most fascinating hidden treasures.

"It's really some amazing and beautiful driving," says Houghton. "It makes history a scenic drive."

 

Posted on July 17, 2006