History is written by those who follow, and the history of America’s historic trails lies in the hearts of the people we followed along them. Without their hopes and dreams, these would be nothing more than empty routes to another place to eat. This video series highlights those Americans who have been setting out to explore new territory since before our country was born. The lure of the frontier, the urge to see what’s out there, has been a defining national characteristic for more than four hundred years. The new emmy-nominated public television series, America’s Historic Trails with Tom Bodett, traces the paths taken by succeeding waves of pioneers and settlers, visionaries and adventurers, as they pushed across the continent to claim what became these United States. These colorful characters, their struggles and triumphs, are recalled in this richly told history with dozens of evocative drawings and photos.

 

America’s Historic Trails – New York to Boston
America’s Historic Trails – New Orleans to Nashville
America’s Historic Trails – Philadelphia to Louisville
America’s Historic Trails – The Mormon Trail and The California Trails
America’s Historic Trails – The Yukon Gold Rush
America’s Historic Trails – California’s Mission Trail and New Mexico’s El Camino Real