{"product_id":"the-west-virginia-turnpike-9781467109819","title":"The West Virginia Turnpike","description":"The beautiful mountains of south-central West Virginia can be simultaneously challenging and rewarding to travelers. Pre-Columbian First Nations people traversed the Allegheny Mountain Range for thousands of years before European settlers arrived. The natural mountain barrier stood as a formidable challenge to the newcomers. Union and Confederate forces traversed West Virginia, but artillery trails and oxen paths were ill-suited for trucks and automobiles. During World War II, Allied forces witnessed the significance of Germany's autobahn in terms of troop movement. Still, planning for a US interstate highway system evolved slowly. In 1947, leaders in the West Virginia State Legislature approved funds to build a turnpike from Wheeling to Princeton. Cost concerns prompted legislative leaders to modify the plan and select a route from Charleston to Princeton. The southern part of the two-lane version of the turnpike opened to nationwide acclaim in 1955. The unrivaled beauty of the 88-mile superhighway; the incredible travel time savings and attractions, including Tamarack--a marketplace for West Virginia artists and artisans; and a conference center have transformed the West Virginia Turnpike into an attractive destination excellent for visiting travelers as well as West Virginians.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Arcadia Publishing (SC)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 06\/19\/2023\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781467109819\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 128","brand":"William R. Archer","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42917205704885,"sku":"9781467109819","price":20.39,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/products\/img_9d822e12-00d9-4ef1-8b60-969258c80f13.jpg?v=1687279644","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/the-west-virginia-turnpike-9781467109819","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}