The Mississippi River Scenic Highway was an auto trail in the United States, created in 1919[citation needed] to connect the US Midwest with the Southern United States. It was expanded to include a branch to Miami.[1]
The Mississippi River Scenic Highway was part of a series of auto trails in the United States to promote travel along the Mississippi River. The organization was headquartered in St. Louis, though each state or division had their own organization,[2] which worked with local cities and towns along the route.[3] The highway has been largely replaced with Great River Road by the 1970s.[4]
The route was marked by a blue capital letter "I", usually with a white background. As with other auto trails, the logo was commonly painted on utility poles.
Officially the route description began at Lake Itasca in Minnesota but contemporary maps show Winnipeg as the northern terminous. From Lake Itasca the route traveled south through the Twin Cities to Dubuque, Iowa in what was called the northern division. The north central division took the route from Dubuque in Iowa to Quincy, Illinois. The Illinois section connected Quincy with St Louis. A south central division took the route between St Louis and Memphis, Tennessee while the southern division connected Memphis with New Orleans. [3]
Later[when?], a spur was added that connected the highway to Miami. This spur connected with the highway at Clarksdale, Mississippi and continued on through Florida terminating in Miami. It was co-signed as the Dixie Highway from Fort Myers, Florida to Miami.[1]
Historyedit
The route was originally conceived as a scenic route along the Mississippi River in Iowa but it was expanded to be a transcontinental road.[3]
The modern Great River Road, which also follows the course of the Mississippi River, takes a similar route as the historical Mississippi River Scenic Highway.
^ abDroz, Robert V. (November 9, 2001). "Mississippi River Scenic Hwy". Lost History.
^Babcock, Charles M. (September 13, 1920). "Mississippi River Scenic Highway". State of Minnesota Highway Department – via Minnesota Department of Transportation Library.
^ abcVant Hul, J.C. Jr. (July–August 1920). "The Mississippi River Scenic Highway". See America First. Vol. 6, no. 5. pp. 60, 70 – via Google Books.
^Smith, Karen Haas (November–December 1998). "The Great River Road Celebrates 60 Years". Public Roads. Vol. 62, no. 3. Federal Highway Administration.
January 01, 1970
mississippi, river, scenic, highway, auto, trail, united, states, created, 1919, citation, needed, connect, midwest, with, southern, united, states, expanded, include, branch, miami, route, informationexisted1920, presentmain, linenorth, endwinnipeg, mbsouth, . The Mississippi River Scenic Highway was an auto trail in the United States created in 1919 citation needed to connect the US Midwest with the Southern United States It was expanded to include a branch to Miami 1 Mississippi River Scenic HighwayRoute informationExisted1920 presentMain LineNorth endWinnipeg MBSouth endNew Orleans LAEastern divisionNorth endClarksdale MSSouth endMiami FLLocationCountryUnited StatesStatesMinnesota Iowa Illinois Missouri Kentucky Tennessee Louisiana Mississippi Alabama FloridaHighway systemAuto trail The Mississippi River Scenic Highway was part of a series of auto trails in the United States to promote travel along the Mississippi River The organization was headquartered in St Louis though each state or division had their own organization 2 which worked with local cities and towns along the route 3 The highway has been largely replaced with Great River Road by the 1970s 4 The route was marked by a blue capital letter I usually with a white background As with other auto trails the logo was commonly painted on utility poles Contents 1 Route description 2 History 3 See also 4 ReferencesRoute description editOfficially the route description began at Lake Itasca in Minnesota but contemporary maps show Winnipeg as the northern terminous From Lake Itasca the route traveled south through the Twin Cities to Dubuque Iowa in what was called the northern division The north central division took the route from Dubuque in Iowa to Quincy Illinois The Illinois section connected Quincy with St Louis A south central division took the route between St Louis and Memphis Tennessee while the southern division connected Memphis with New Orleans 3 The highway crossed paths with other named auto trails most notably the Lincoln Highway in Clinton Iowa the Pikes Peak Ocean to Ocean Highway in Hannibal Missouri the National Old Trails Road at St Louis and the Bankhead Highway at Memphis Later when a spur was added that connected the highway to Miami This spur connected with the highway at Clarksdale Mississippi and continued on through Florida terminating in Miami It was co signed as the Dixie Highway from Fort Myers Florida to Miami 1 History editThe route was originally conceived as a scenic route along the Mississippi River in Iowa but it was expanded to be a transcontinental road 3 The modern Great River Road which also follows the course of the Mississippi River takes a similar route as the historical Mississippi River Scenic Highway See also edit nbsp U S Roads portalReferences edit a b Droz Robert V November 9 2001 Mississippi River Scenic Hwy Lost History Babcock Charles M September 13 1920 Mississippi River Scenic Highway State of Minnesota Highway Department via Minnesota Department of Transportation Library a b c Vant Hul J C Jr July August 1920 The Mississippi River Scenic Highway See America First Vol 6 no 5 pp 60 70 via Google Books Smith Karen Haas November December 1998 The Great River Road Celebrates 60 Years Public Roads Vol 62 no 3 Federal Highway Administration Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mississippi River Scenic Highway amp oldid 1191661943, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
