The next morning we left Toronto, driving back around part of Lake Ontario, heading toward Niagara Falls. Kit didn't drive down the main road by the Falls, but we drove over Rainbow Bridge. The view of the Falls was great! Then we had to proceed through Customs to get back into the States. That was easy except for the wait time. We drove for a long time that day, reaching Uniontown, Pennsylvania in the late afternoon. If you know Kit and I, you know how much we enjoy the history of our country. We were taken back to long ago as we drove along the first National Highway, US 40. It is the first road built back in the 1700s by our US Government at the encouragement of George Washington. Of course, the road isn't as it was back then, but parts of the new road do run along the same path.
Example of a mile-marker such as the ones
used along US 40 many years ago. Some of the
original markers can still be seen along the road.
Fort Necessity
We entered the Fort Necessity National Park. Fort Necessity is the fort built by George Washington and his men as protection from the British. During this time, before the USA actually became a country, Washington was a soldier for the British. The British and the French were bickering over the land of the Ohio Valley. The Native Americans sometimes helped one country, then helped the other, when truly, the land belonged to them. This conflict was called The French and Indian War, although it makes sense to call it The French and British War! It is also called the Seven Years War in that it lasted that long, and the British did win the territory, giving up the area in the south known eventually as The Louisiana Purchase.
The Fort Necessity Visitor Center/Museum
Wampum belts were used for communication
between the white man and Native Americans
Do you see anyone who looks familiar?
What about anyone here?
Fort reproduction
Is he British? French? Native American?
No, just Kit trying to get into the fort!
Many years after the construction of US 40, many
towns, stores and taverns were built. Washington
Tavern was one of the famous ones.
Braddock Road
Part of the original US 40 where Braddock's
men were working on the road and were
attacked.
Braddock was sent to this area to lead his men
in creating US 40. Washington accompanied him.
While working, they were attacked by the French
and Braddock was killed. Washington had his
men to bury Braddock in the middle of the road.
The reason was to keep the angered Native
Americans from finding and desecrating his body.
Monument represents the 2nd grave of
Braddock, where his remains were moved to
years later.
More of Braddock's Road, the original US 40.
