Along America's Byways, travelers have the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of early settlers or modern pioneers. Long before automobiles, ancient Indian tribes carved their own paths through the country. Some of the byways follow these Indian trails -- like the Natchez Trace Parkway -- and travelers can take the same route that has been used for thousands of years (the original Trace is still visible along some portions of the road).
Lewis and Clark and the "Corps of Discovery" epitomize what it means to be an explorer as they blazed their own trail across the country. Nearly 200 years ago, they set off to find a route to the Pacific Ocean. The Northwest Passage Scenic Byway in Idaho retraces some of their historic journey, where some of their original campsites are still intact.
Travelers may want to journey along the path that settlers used on the Santa Fe Trail Scenic Byway in New Mexico. Running from Missouri to New Mexico, this was the first major land route west of the Mississippi and the original wagon ruts can still be seen today.
More modern pioneers are honored too. Byway visitors can drive the historical 1965 route that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. took on the landmark Selma to Montgomery March. The route is now an All-American Road. Explore these byways to learn more about our nation's historic roads.
