Dixie Highway Historical Marker - Homewood, Illinois
Posted by: 
BruceS
N 41° 33.603 W 087° 39.941
16T E 444491 N 4601144
Historical marker in Homewood giving a brief history of the historic Dixie Highway which passes through eastern Illinois.
Waymark Code: WM2TW3
Location: Illinois, United States
Date Posted: 12/22/2007
Views: 84
Dixie Highway
Dixie Highway was the first national road linking industrial northern
states to agricultural southern states. Several governors met in 1915 to
consider an improved road to Miami, ten states lobbied for inclusion, resulting
in eastern and western divisions. In Illinois, the route started in
Chicago, traveled through Blue Island, Homewood and Chicago Heights, then
followed what today is Route 1 to Danville, there it turned east toward Indiana.
By 1923, the official map of Dixie Highway covered a network of 6,0000 improved
roadway miles.
The Dixie Highway Association took over work begun by the governors.
Many counties funded and built the highway while poorer counties required
private and federal aid. Citizens took brushes in hand to pain "DH" in red
and white on poles, marking the way for travelers. Gas stations and
mechanics were rare, motorists carried extra gas and tools. Travelers
packed tents or rented rooms. Soon tourist camps, cabins, roadside diners
and service garages sprouted. The road was a significant supply route
during both World Wars.
Dixie Highway follows one of the oldest, most historic Illinois trails.
Native Americans and trapper-traders traced a path worn by animals along the
eastern Illinois border. In the 1820s, Gurdon Saltonstall Hubbard
established trading posts along the trail, identified as Hubbard's Trace and
Vincennes Trail on old maps. In 1835, the Illinois General Assembly
ordered that a state road be established and mile makers placed thereon. ~
text of marker