From trail to railway through the Appalachians

The book traces how travel and transport across the Appalachian region developed from primitive trails and waterways into canals, turnpikes, and railways that connected eastern ports to inland settlements. It combines physical geography with historical narrative and maps to explain route selection, engineering challenges, and regional connections. Chapters profile major corridors and cities across New England, New York, Pennsylvania, the Ohio Valley, and the southern highlands, and examine how transportation infrastructure shaped migration, commerce, and the opening of western territories.