RoadTrippin'-- Part 2: What Is RoadTrippin' Thru History?

I got the term "Roadtrippin' " from Liz and my love of traveling down this country's old roads.  You start the trip on one of these with no real idea where you are going to go or what you're going to see around the next bend or curve or town.  It is like a trip back home.

Illinois is lucky to have probably the three most famous of the old roads:  one from the early 1800s, the first transcontinental road and arguably the most famous of the numbered roads, here in Illinois.  That would be the National Road, Lincoln Highway and Route 66.

In 2006, when we retired, Liz and I drove from one end of Route 66 in Chicago to the other end in Santa Monica, California.  We also drove a big section of it in 2017 when we both turned 66 (you know, Route 66 when you're 66).  I have driven the Lincoln Highway from east Ohio out to Nebraska and also the whole National Road.

When we drive these old roads, we don't have a set time table because you never know what you'll find of interest along the way.

When I apply this to history, I start off with a story and really don't know where it is going to take me.

And this particular "RoadTrip" took me all over."

In the next post, I will give you an itinerary to know where you'll be going.

--Old Secesh

Sure Wasn't Expecting to Be "Out West" with This Blog, But, Here I Am: "RoadTrippin' Through History"

Now, this is about mt 17th blog entry dealing with Nebraska and Colorado.  Two months ago, I did not know of any of this and it all started with a move in Nebraska to put up a statue in honor of their 1st Nebraska Infantry Regiment at Fort Donelson.  Before that, I did not even know Nebraska had any regiments during the war.  And, I suppose that since this is not a Confederate statue, certain people will leave it alone.

Both were territories during the war.

You just never know where any of my blogs are headed as I do my research and writing according to road cruising.  I start at a point and just don't know where I am headed with it or how far I'll go with it.   Kind of like going to YouTube to hear a song, and then four hours later, you're still listening to music on that site.

This is something I get from my love of cruising down old roads, especially Route 66, the Lincoln Highway and the Dixie Highway.  You know where you start, but have no idea where you're headed.  I call this "Roadtripping Through History."

It will be interesting to see how far I go with this, or, for that matter, where I go with this.

See You When and Where I Go.  --Old Secesh

As We Commemorate the Last Day of Battle of Gettysburg-- Part 4: A Lincoln Highway Connection

With all the hoopla surrounding the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, its sesquicentennial, it's also noteworthy that this year we commemorate the centennial of the road named for the Union's president at the time, Abraham Lincoln.  I am talking about the Lincoln Highway.

The man responsible for the Lincoln Highway's creation, Carl Fisher of Indianapolis, made sure the his stone road went through Gettysburg on its way from New York City to San Francisco.  After all, Gettysburg was where Abraham Lincoln gave one of the greatest speeches of all time right there several months after the battle.

To Honor a Great One.  --Old Secesh