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Indiana's
Mother Road |
In 1820, when Indiana
had no major roads, John
Tipton and Gov.
Jennnings rode by
horseback up to central
Indiana. Their purpose,
was to meet with several
other commissions to
select a new location
for the state capital.
By 1822, twin state
roads were platted and
surveyed. Their purpose
was to provide a land
route out into the
wilderness were the new
capital was to be built.
One road would be 125
miles long and start at
the Ohio River below
Corydon at Mauckport and
end in Indianapolis.
The second road being 55
miles long, would start
at the Ohio River at
Madison and connect with
the Mauxferry Road at it
95 mile post (in what is
now Camp Atterbury).
Later, the meeting place
would be moved to
Franklin.
In 1824, the Mauxferry
Road was completed and
in the fall of that
year, the states
treasury and the other
tools of government
moved up this road.
The following year, 1825
Indianapolis became the
new capital of Indiana
and the Madison State
Road was completed.
 At
first, the Mauxferry
Road was more important
because of the necessary
to move the state
government. But later,
the Madison State Road
would offer more.
If the "Madison State
Road" were a woman she
would say she has had
quite a life, having
served the state of
Indiana for over 180
years
First, she brought the
first materials into the
wilderness to build the
new state capital. But
later, she offered
stagecoach service
connecting the new city
with riverboats and the
outside world.
In 1828, it took four
days to make the trip to
Madison, but in later
years, an express coach
would require less than
24 hours.
By 1832, all thought the
"Madison Lady" was dead,
fore the newer Michigan
Super Road had been
built to replace her.
But that was not to be.
A new invention, the
railroad, would be her
salvation.
By 1838, Indiana's first
RR was operating between
Madison and Vernon with
Stagecoach service to
and from Indianapolis.
It would take nine more
years to complete the RR
to Indianapolis and the
Madison State Road was
again the chosen route.
By 1847, the railroad
reached the capital and
killed most travel on
both the Michigan and
Madison roads.
But the "Grand Dame"
would not die.
Indianapolis - In 1920,
workers were in shock
to find a pioneer wooden
road under Madison Ave.
They had rediscovered
"Indiana's Mother Road".
Jay Allen
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