Biking Through History on the Great Allegheny Passage Trail - (Regional) by Edward Muller (Paperback)

About the Book

Formerly titled An Uncommon Passage: Traveling through History on the Great Allegheny Passage Trail, this is a revised and updated version. This book reveals the historic importance of the Great Allegheny Passage Trail, now a scenic biking tand hiking trail that stretches from Pittsburgh, PA to Washington, D.C. Through beautiful contemporary photos, historic illustrations and a compelling narrative, the rich history of the trail comes to life for visitors (and everyone) to enjoy.

Book Synopsis

Photographs by Paul g Wiegman

The Great Allegheny Passage Trail is a world class biking, hiking, and recreational gateway that stretches nearly 150 miles from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Cumberland, Maryland, where it connects with the C&O Canal Towpath to reach Washington, DC. Showcasing all the natural beauty of the region, this former Indian path, trade route, military road, railway link, and portion of the original National Road is also a journey through American history. The book's engaging narrative is complemented by the nature photography of Paul g Wiegman and an extensive selection of historical illustrations, all of which reveal the stunning scenery and history of the biking trail. This book captures the essence of the trail as a journey through both time and space, one that evokes all of the heritage and beauty of a region that would grow to prosper and help forge a nation. Formerly titled An Uncommon Passage: Traveling through History on the Great Allegheny Passage Trail, this is an updated paperback version with a revised introduction and new material that includes the completed trail area in the city of Pittsburgh.

Review Quotes

[Important] to scholars for insight into the process of community and regional regeneration in the postindustrial era . . . accessible and innovative . . . beautiful photography is seamlessly meshed with engaging prose.-- "Pennsylvania History"

A must-read for anyone biking or hiking along any section of the Great Allegheny Passage. It will enrich their experiences many times over.-- "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette"

More than simply a tale of the history and development of one of this area's most unique features. It also is a fine history of Western Pennsylvania.-- "Pittsburgh Tribune Review"

This book ably presents the panoply of geology, geography, biology, and human history that is the Great Allegheny Passage. Read it to plan a trip and to achieve the full experience when you visit this rich and fascinating realm.-- "Charles Fergus, author of Trees of Pennsylvania and Wildlife of Pennsylvania"

This is an uncommonly good read. It's a welcome addition to the resources about the Great Allegheny Passage. An Uncommon Passage provides comprehensive overviews of the historical and natural setting of the trail. These provide a context that enriches our understanding of the trail.-- "Mary Shaw, coauthor, Linking Up"

About the Author

Edward K. Muller is professor emeritus of history at the University of Pittsburgh and former director of the university's Urban Studies Program. He focuses on the history and geography of North American cities, particularly Pittsburgh. He is coauthor of Making Industrial Pittsburgh: Environment, Landscape, Transportation, Energy, and Planning and Before Renaissance: Planning in Pittsburgh, 1889-1943, among other books, and editor of An Uncommon Passage: Traveling through History on the Great Allegheny Passage Trail and DeVoto's West: History, Conservation, and the Public Good, among other books.