America’s Historic Roads
Puzzle 24 · The National Road West · Page 40 in print
Vandalia Terminus
A Madonna of the Trail statue dedicated in 1928 commemorates Vandalia as the National Road’s western terminus.
Jump to a word
The words
Appropriation
Congressional spending authorization for road construction.
County Seats
Administrative towns linked to Vandalia by the road.
Greenup
William C. Greenup, Illinois road-construction superintendent.
Iron Bridge
The 1878 replacement crossing at Vandalia.
Jefferson City
Missouri capital proposed as a further destination beyond Vandalia.
Joseph Shriver
Surveyor of the 1828 route to Vandalia.
Kaskaskia
River at Vandalia’s historic National Road crossing.
Mississippi
River reached by later extensions west of Vandalia.
Ox Wagon
Vehicle carrying quarried bridge stones to the Kaskaskia.
Porticoes
Columned entrance porches at the State House near the terminus monument.
Senate Chamber
Recreated legislative room in the State House at the road’s terminus.
State House
Historic capitol whose grounds contain the National Road terminus monument.
Steamboats
Competing transport that reduced the road’s importance.
Vandalia
Illinois capital and western terminus of the federal road.
Walkways
Pedestrian passages on the covered Kaskaskia bridge.
Sources
- Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, Papers of Abraham Lincolnpapersofabrahamlincoln.org
- National Road Association of Illinois, 2015 interpretive marker; transcription via HMdbhmdb.org
- Vandalia State House - Southwest RegionIllinois Department of Natural Resources