Driving through History: Rockford, Illinois, to Newport, Oregon on U.S. 20

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Take a modern Voyage of Discovery from Illinois to the Pacific Coast on the last blue highway” across the U.S. Follow the record of westward migration over the U.S. 20 corridor, which is little recognized by contemporary narratives. Visit the railroads or their remnants that deposited emigrants at the temporary terminals. Discover why so many Swedes settled in Rockford, Illinois, and which U.S. presidents were involved in the Black Hawk War. Visit a basilica in Dyersville, Iowa and a ship named after the only member of the Lewis and Clark expedition to die. Find out what happened ten million years ago to bury rhinos, camels, and three-toed horses. Drive through the history of the largest area of grass-stabilized dunes in the Western Hemisphere. Pass through layers of geologic history from the Precambrian to recent times and then through fields of solid lava. Get to know trappers who guided mapping expeditions. Visit the forts built for protection from Native Americans who were being constantly pushed farther west. Cattlemen sent their hoofed meat back east. Manifest Destiny was played out here as well as along the other routes to the West Coast. Finally, discover the mysteries of life in the Pacific Ocean.