The Old Glade (Forbes's) Road (Pennsylvania State Road)

The book traces the birth of a rugged overland route that linked the Atlantic seaboard with the Ohio frontier in the mid‑eighteenth century. It begins with General Braddock’s 1755 request for a western road, the subsequent partial construction, and the decisive turn when General Forbes revived the project, carving a path that would become the lifeline for troops, supplies, and later settlers. Detailed maps and period illustrations bring the terrain to life, showing how the high‑ground “Old Trading Path” avoided the treacherous river valleys and why it was favored over rival routes.

Beyond its military origins, the narrative follows the road’s evolution into a vital artery during the Revolutionary War and the early western expansion, linking forts and frontier towns across Pennsylvania. As railways later eclipsed it, the old glade road faded into quiet hills, yet its imprint remains a testament to the daring engineering and relentless ambition that opened the western world for a new generation of pioneers.