Historical Markers In the Story
Original Documents
Bourne, Russell. Americans on the Move: A History of Waterways, Railways, and Highways. Golden, CO: Fulcrum Publishing, 1995.
An overview of transportation systems beginning with the National Road, this concise source contains maps and illustrations from the Library of Congress.
Burgess, George H. and Miles C. Kennedy. Centennial History of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, 1846-1946. Philadelphia, PA: Pennsylvania Railroad Company, 1949.
This is a detailed account of the first 100 years of the Pennsylvania Railroad published by the company, full of photos and interesting vignettes.
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Historical Museum Commission and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Historic Highway Bridges in Pennsylvania. Harrisburg, PA: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 1986.
This is a strong study detailing the history of bridges such as Dunlap's Creek Bridge.
Cupper, Dan. The Pennsylvania Turnpike: A History. Harrisburg, PA: Applied Arts Publishers, 1995.
The definitive source on the history of the Pennsylvania Turnpike and the Old South Penn Railroad.
Hartman, Jesse L. "The Portage Railroad National Historic Site and the Johnstown Flood Memorial." Pennsylvania History:31 (1964): 139-156.
This article offers one of the best overviews of the Allegheny Portage Railroad.
Lestz, Gerald S. A Brief History of Transportation in Lancaster County. Ephrata, PA: Science Press, 1979.
This book provides a readable primer on the Conestoga wagon and what life was like on early roads in Pennsylvania.
Lewie, Chris J. Two Generations on the Allegheny Portage Railroad, The First Railroad to Cross the Allegheny Mountains. Shippensburg, PA: Burd St. Press, 2001.
A detailed account of the construction of the Allegheny Portage Railroad and its operations.
McCullough, Robert and Walter Leuba. The Pennsylvania Main Line Canal. York, PA: American Canal Center, 1973.
This is a thorough study detailing the history of the Pennsylvania Canal.
Raitz, Karl. The National Road. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996.
Terrific historical account regarding the creation and history of the National Road.
Shank, William H. Three Hundred Years with the Pennsylvania Traveler. York, PA: American Canal & Transportation Center, 1976.
Perhaps the most thorough book on the history of transportation and travel in Pennsylvania, with plenty of good images, targeted particularly for young adults.
U. S. Department of the Interior. The National Road. Washington, DC: U. S. Government Printing Office, 1994.
This book contains several useful maps and images of the National Road along its entire length from Maryland to the Midwest.
Way, Peter. Common Labour: Workers and the Digging of North American Canals, 1780-1860. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1993.
This book offers an especially powerful window into life for the workers who helped build the Pennsylvania Canal.
Good source of general background on this important railroad breakthrough
Pennsylvania Canal Society http://www.pacanalsociety.org/
Comprehensive catalog of the canals and their importance
Pennsylvania USGenWeb Project "Watson's Annals of Philadelphia And Pennsylvania" http://usgwarchives.net/pa/philadelphia/watsontoc.htm
Collection of memoirs and anecdotes written by John Watson and published in 1857 that provide an invaluable historical perspective of Pennsylvania's growth from early settlement to the Industrial era
Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, http://www.rrmuseumpa.org/index.shtml
Great site for a comprehensive history of railways in Pennsylvania
Social Studies for Kids "Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike" http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/wwww/us/lancasterturnpikedef.htm
Scholastic-level analysis of the turnpike
The Conestoga Area Historical Society, " The Conestoga Wagon" http://www.rootsweb.com/~pacahs/wagon.htm
Useful information provided on the revolutionary land vehicle with a strong list of resources for further study
U.S. Government: Teaching with Historic Places Lesson Plans, Allegheny Portage Railroad http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/23allegheny/23allegheny.h...
Excellent source of information for school age children on the Allegheny Portage Railroad
