South Cleveland to New Philadelphia - 77

This program is designed to be played in your vehicle while driving Interstate 77 south from Cleveland to New Philadelphia, Ohio. It offers a timed commentary on the region featuring its people, history, geography and especially stories that are unique to the area this highway takes us through.

The route begins in industrial Cleveland but at the southern edges of the metropolitan area, youll encounter a surprising transition. Suddenly, you're in a forest with glimpses of rolling wooded hills to the left. This is the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio's only national park. It was established in 1974 as a national recreation area and only recently upgraded to national park status.

As you make your way through Akron, you might glimpse reminders of what once were Akron's main industries: tires and oatmeal. Akron was home to the "big four" of the rubber industryB. F. Goodrich, Goodyear, Firestone, General Tireand Quaker Oats. Today are only traces of those industries. You'll see some names reminiscent of the era (Firestone Blvd) and some structures (a silo complex that was turned into a hotelit can be seen off to the left when you pass Akron's downtown).

Throughout this route, you'll be following the path of the old Ohio and Erie Canal. At Bolivar, I-77 is built on top of the canal bed. Look to the right just before the Bolivar exit, and you'll see a row of canal-era buildings. It doesn't take much imagination to see how those structures were lined up to serve the canal traffic. Right after the Bolivar exit, you'll pass through a section of what was once Fort Laurens, the only American fort built in the Ohio territory during the Revolutionary War. The fort didn't have much of an effect militarilythe greatest battle was with the threat of starvation. But it scored a few points for the struggling American forces for even attempting a presence out here in the wilderness

This tour covers ... Starting in Cleveland,Exit 143 I-271,Exit 118 Massilion

Click to see more from this Presenter

This program is designed to be played in your vehicle while driving Interstate 77 south from Cleveland to New Philadelphia, Ohio. It offers a timed commentary on the region featuring its people, history, geography and especially stories that are unique to the area this highway takes us through.

The route begins in industrial Cleveland but at the southern edges of the metropolitan area, youll encounter a surprising transition. Suddenly, you're in a forest with glimpses of rolling wooded hills to the left. This is the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio's only national park. It was established in 1974 as a national recreation area and only recently upgraded to national park status.

As you make your way through Akron, you might glimpse reminders of what once were Akron's main industries: tires and oatmeal. Akron was home to the "big four" of the rubber industryB. F. Goodrich, Goodyear, Firestone, General Tireand Quaker Oats. Today are only traces of those industries. You'll see some names reminiscent of the era (Firestone Blvd) and some structures (a silo complex that was turned into a hotelit can be seen off to the left when you pass Akron's downtown).

Throughout this route, you'll be following the path of the old Ohio and Erie Canal. At Bolivar, I-77 is built on top of the canal bed. Look to the right just before the Bolivar exit, and you'll see a row of canal-era buildings. It doesn't take much imagination to see how those structures were lined up to serve the canal traffic. Right after the Bolivar exit, you'll pass through a section of what was once Fort Laurens, the only American fort built in the Ohio territory during the Revolutionary War. The fort didn't have much of an effect militarilythe greatest battle was with the threat of starvation. But it scored a few points for the struggling American forces for even attempting a presence out here in the wilderness

This tour covers ... Starting in Cleveland,Exit 143 I-271,Exit 118 Massilion

Click to see more from this Presenter