Early Chapters in the Development of the Patomac Route to the West (Classic Reprint)

Unlocking the early path to the West and the people who built it.

This account traces the first bold efforts to connect Atlantic settlements with the vast western country, starting around 1740 and centering on figures like Thomas Cresap and the Ohio Company. It reveals how frontier trade, exploration, and mapmaking shaped a nation’s ambitious plans for travel and commerce.

This edition surveys the pivotal years when land companies, colonial rivals, and Native nations intersected on the high frontier. It highlights the birth of organized routes, the governance behind them, and the men who pressed westward while navigating political and economic tensions.

• How Cresap’s life and actions influenced frontier settlement and trade.
• The rise of the Ohio Company and its role in marking roads and extending reach beyond the Alleghenies.
• The emergence of early canal and road projects, including plans to connect Potomac waters with the Ohio.
• The interplay of Maryland, Virginia, and national politics in early American infrastructure.

Ideal for readers interested in early American exploration, colonial enterprise, and the formation of inland transportation networks.