A Road Through History
How did you get here today? There's a good chance that you traveled along a route used by travelers for centuries. Nearby I-44 and the historic Route 66 follow paths used by American Indians for trade and travel more than 500 years ago.
In the 1830s, when Cherokee on the Trail of Tears used this corridor, Waynesville was just a small village. The town's proximity to early transportation routes helped it to grow. After the construction of a telegraph line connecting Saint Louis, Missouri to Fort Smith, Arkansas, people began calling this route the "Wire Road." During the Civil War, it provided the main route through the Ozarks, and troops followed it to skimishes and camps in the region.
In 1926, the road became part of Route 66, the iconic highway that linked Chicago, Illinois to southern California. How are you using this route today?
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The five-span concrete bridge you see before you replaced this metal structure in 1923.
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Early Route 66 travelers passing through Waynesville.
Erected by National Park Service, City of Waynesville, and Pulaski County Tourism Bureau.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts
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Location. 37° 49.642′ N, 92° 12.276′ W. Marker is in Waynesville, Missouri, in Pulaski County. Marker is on Superior Road south of Old U.S. Route 66 (Business Interstate 44), on the right when traveling south. Marker is in Roy Laughlin Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Waynesville MO 65583, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A Frigid Crossing (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); What is the Trail of Tears? (about 500 feet away); A Resting Place for the Weary (about 500 feet away); A Trail of Tragedy (about 500 feet away); Discover a Hidden History (about 600 feet away); Rigsby House and Standard Oil Station (approx. 0.2 miles away); Pulaski County (approx. 0.2 miles away); Roubidoux Trail (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Waynesville.
Also see . . .
1. Trail Of Tears National Historic Trail. (Submitted on October 16, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. History of Waynesville, Missouri. (Submitted on October 16, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
3. Route 66 in Missouri. (Submitted on October 16, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Credits. This page was last revised on October 16, 2020. It was originally submitted on October 16, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 149 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 16, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
