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The Indiana Byway Program

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The Indiana Byway Program The Indiana Byway Program The Indiana Byway Program has been provides professional support to the in existence since about 1997 and is local byway leaders. designed to preserve, protect, enhance and recognize transportation corridors of The Ohio River Scenic Byway unique character. These corridors are notable examples of our nation's beauty, history, culture and recreational experience. Featured highways were designated nationally by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation in 1996, 1998, 2000 and 2002 from nominations presented by the states. INDOT is responsible for submitting Indiana route nominations for national designation and for submitting projects for discretionary grant funding. More than just scenic highways byways possess the outstanding qualities that exemplify the diverse regional character of our nation. Because Indiana wants byway designation to mean more than identification by a sign, the Indiana The Ohio River Scenic Byway (ORSB) Program emphasizes the same intrinsic is a 302-mile route that roughly parallels qualities used under the federal the famous river so important to the program. Indiana has been recognized early settlement of the continental as a leader among multi-state byways. United States. Most of the route follows state roads, but some sections fall under Indiana has two nationally-designated local jurisdiction. The ORSB extends byways and one state byway. All began across 13 southern Indiana counties. In as multi-county initiatives in towns 1998 the Ohio and Illinois portions of the representing a range of resources, byway joined the Indiana section to form socioeconomic and geographic a 967-mile National Scenic Byway. diversity. Each was initially designated a state byway. Local support groups, The Ohio River Scenic Route, Inc., the interested in seeking national local support group in Indiana, worked designation, were willing to tackle a years to establish the byway. range of corridor issues, develop Designated a state scenic byway in corridor management plans and work 1992 and a National Scenic Byway in toward implementation of those plans. 1996, the ORSB is based on an Working with the Indiana Departments economic development strategy that of Commerce and Natural Resources, balances tourism with resource and the Indiana Division of the Federal management. While promoting its Highway Administration, INDOT intrinsic qualities, local supporters have always considered the importance of in requests for information from economic development. prospective travelers. As it winds its way through the hilly Attempting to create a seamless topography, the ORSB links river towns, traveling experience, an interpretive most of which were settled in the early master plan for the three-state byway 19th century. While some byway was published in 2002. A single firm communities appear unaffected by the collected resource material, developed global economy, significant influence initial themes, helped choose radiates from Cincinnati, Ohio; interpretive sites and prepared the plan. Louisville, Kentucky; and Evansville, Interpretation focuses on and helps Indiana. Economic development is also protect cultural, historic and natural evident near the sites where riverboat resources, while enabling travelers to gaming has been established. In most sample the diversity and natural beauty. every community the need for economic Now, byway leaders in Indiana have development and growth has required a initiated an ambitious project to share balance with respect for the region's this resource and bring it to life for the natural beauty and tranquil quality of life. public by creating interpretive displays along the byway. A series of meetings The most visible evidence of the ORSB in 2004 generated local input on themes has been the byway route signs and and locations for about 70 displays. gateway signs. In 2000 INDOT crews installed ORSB route signs on state A key multi-state project established a highways and provided signs for unique website and created a travel segments under local jurisdiction. In brochure highlighting the ORSB 2002 gateway signs with the ORSB and corridor. www.ohioriverscenicbyway.org America’s BywaysTM logo were erected went live in fall 2004 as an engaging by INDOT at key entry points to the user-friendly website that entices corridor. Route signs have also been travelers and residents to explore and installed in Illinois and Ohio. Since the unwind. The companion brochure byway route signs went up, sources in features byway themes, events and all three states have reported a growth resource sites depicted on a useful map. Map by Mapquest The Historic National Road and Richmond’s preservation efforts in the Whitewater River Gorge. The Historic National Road (HNR) is a 156-mile, nine-county corridor across The HNR in Indiana was designated a central Indiana. Most of the byway state scenic byway in 1996 and a today is signed as US 40, but some National Scenic Byway in 1998 for its stretches are state highways, county cultural and historic qualities. In 2002 roads and local streets. First conceived Indiana joined Maryland, Pennsylvania, under Thomas Jefferson in 1806, the West Virginia, Ohio and Illinois, to earn road became the nation's first federally the very highest national designation funded interstate highway. From available…All American Road. Cumberland, Maryland to Vandalia, Illinois, the road was originally created to link the eastern seaboard with the western interior. The National Road is truly the road that built the nation. The HNR in Indiana features a collection of historic architecture from the earliest day of the road through the automobile era. Views along the route alternate from agrarian scenes to rural countryside and pike towns. Terre Haute, Indianapolis and Richmond are located on the National Road. The Indiana National Road Association (INRA) was founded by Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana to To create a byway image and establish focus historic preservation along the a common thread for travelers, byway and to build community representatives of the six National Road awareness and pride in the road. They states engaged in lively debates over have achieved significant progress. route signs. The image seen here has greeted byway travelers in Indiana since With local citizen involvement and early 2002. The other states followed Historic Landmark’s support, INRA suit and installed similar signs along seeks to improve development practices their segments of the route. In 2004 along the HNR. An early “coffee INDOT installed gateway signs cottage” gas station in Terre Haute was incorporating this and the America’s saved and relocated. INRA joined local BywaysTM logo at high traffic locations. residents to support the application of Gateway signs alert motorists that they "context sensitive design" techniques have an opportunity to sample this through the Town of Cumberland. In significant national resource. Greenfield INRA helped create a program to fund historic façade The Interpretive Master Plan kicked off preservation along the byway. INRA in 1999 was completed in 2002. With also supports Plainfield’s preservation that foundation the INRA board took a and relocation of an original tollhouse page from the board of the ORSB and initiated an interpretive display project of Indiana National Road Association has its own. Interpretive panels, historical received national recognition for these markers and audio media will invite tours and is a featured example among travelers to share and understand the “Best Practices” for byway events. history, culture and special quality of this All American Road. Marketing and promotion are vital to byways. In 2004 INRA concluded a Tradition is an integral part of the two-year effort to create an image for National Road’s identity. To celebrate the byway organization, develop its unique character, the HNR in Indiana membership brochures and driving tour has successfully staged four antique guide, and to establish a dynamic new auto tours. Vintage cars from Indiana website. Sample the Historic National and around the Midwest descend on Road in Indiana at: small town Indiana to travel back to the www.indiananationalroad.org. Golden Age of automobiles. The Map by Mapquest Indiana Historic Pathways the railroads carried passengers and goods along these corridors as settlers In December 2004 Indiana designated moved north from the Ohio River and the first new byway in the state since westward from Cincinnati through 1996. Indiana’s Historic Pathways Vincennes on the way to St. Louis. (IHP), two corridors in southern Indiana Highways, like US 50 and US 150, best described as the “Y” formed by US generally followed the railroads. 50 and US 150 will commemorate the vital role of transportation in settling the After designation the new byway will Hoosier State. The local byway support look forward to crafting a corridor group successfully completed the formal management plan based upon the application process in August of 2004. vision of byway stakeholders. With support from key state and federal Buffalo traveling between Wisconsin agencies, signage, interpretation and and Kentucky salt licks traversed marketing are likely in the future of southern Indiana. Early Native Indiana’s newest byway. Americans subsequently followed the buffalo. Years later stage coaches and Last Updated February 2005.
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