An Uncommon Passage: Traveling through History on the Great Allegheny Passage Trail (Hardcover)
$34.95
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Description
The Great Allegheny Passage Trail forms a hiking and biking route stretching approximately 150 miles from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Cumberland, Maryland, where it connects with the C&O Canal Towpath to reach Washington, DC. The trail is the culmination of many years of work by the Allegheny Trail Alliance, which joined seven separate trail organizations from Pennsylvania and Maryland to acquire and develop the land. Formerly an Indian path, trade route, military road, railway link, and part of the original National Road-the trail is truly a path to American history.
An Uncommon Passage guides readers through the fascinating story of this trail, as a critical link in the western expansion of colonial America, and a pathway to the development of the Southwestern Pennsylvania region. The book explores the British outposts and forts, early settlers and frontier life, developing towns and cities, rise and predominance of industry, later environmentalism and preservation, natural resources, rivers, flora and geological features that comprise the trail and its environs.
The engaging narrative is complemented by an extensive selection of historical illustrations and the contemporary photography of Paul g. Wiegman, all of which reveal the stunning scenery and pictorial history of the region. An Uncommon Passage offers a journey through both time and space to capture the heritage and surroundings of a region that would grow to prosper and help build a nation.
About the Author
Edward K. Muller is professor of history at the University of Pittsburgh and director of the Urban Studies Program. Muller is coauthor of Before Renaissance: Planning in Pittsburgh, 1889-1943, and editor or coeditor of several books, including DeVoto's West: History, Conservation, and the Public Good.
Paul g. Wiegman is a photographer, writer, and naturalist. Trained as a botanist, he has been active in conservation for thirty-five years. His photography has appeared in many publications, including the New York Times, National Geographic, and Time-Life and Readers Digest books.
Praise for An Uncommon Passage: Traveling through History on the Great Allegheny Passage Trail…
“More than simply a tale of the history and development of one of this area’s most unique features. It also is a fine history of Western Pennsylvania.”
—Pittsburgh Tribune Review
“This book ably presents the panoply of geology, geography, biology, and human history that is the Great Allegheny Passage. Read it to plan a trip and to achieve the full experience when you visit this rich and fascinating realm.”
—Charles Fergus, author of Trees of Pennsylvania and Wildlife of Pennsylvania
“This is an uncommonly good read. It's a welcome addition to the resources about the Great Allegheny Passage. An Uncommon Passage provides comprehensive overviews of the historical and natural setting of the trail. These provide a context that enriches our understanding of the trail.”
—Mary Shaw, coauthor,
Linking Up: Planning Your Traffic-Free Trip between Pittsburgh PA and Washington DC“A must-read for anyone biking or hiking along any section of the Great Allegheny Passage. It will enrich their experiences many times over.”
—Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
