I don't think I fully appreciated the difficulties faced by the Colonists in moving eastward until I saw the Appalachian range. The vegetation is prolific and dense, almost defying anyone to attempt to pass through it. To consider the difficulty in just the forests alone is enough to question the sanity of attempting to create a pathway through it much less a road. As if this alone was not enough, the forests cover a range of mountains that extends as far as the eye can see in every direction. To imagine enemies within the forests, not only the bears, mountain lions, wolves, snakes and and other wild animals but also the Indians, one begins find a real appreciation of the fact that in our 400 year history, almost half of that was spent on the relatively tiny eastern seaboard, east of the great mountains.

Our ancestors in 18th Century America were spread all along the Eastern seaboard from Nova Scotia to Georgia.

The 18th century would see the nation move into independence as a nation and would sculpt the heroes whose names would touch the lips of every American in the next two centuries. The 18th century springs from America's history books with an exciting enthusiasm that grasps the heart of every student. It was a time for heroes; for such old fashioned ideas as pride and honor.

From a fledgling nest, America would rise to the stature of an eagle and soar into the 20th century as one of the greatest nations the world has ever known. The greatest minds in the 18th century world would create a government that would be the culmination of every great civilization before it.

From the tiny settlements at Jamestown and Plymouth would emerge the great seaport cities that would call to every nation in the world and for three hundred years invite those less fortunate to come and enjoy the nation's freedoms, blessings and wealth.

Rich land, fresh water and abundant timber would provide the homes for the immigrants and hard work and honest labor would provide the food for their tables. Land was cheap and some land was free and all of it was available to any who would come with a dream and a yearning for freedom.