Paving The Way: The National Park-to-Park Highway

Witness the first stirrings of the great American road-trip

Aired Wednesday, 9/23, 8-10 p.m. on CPTV

PAVING THE WAY relates the little-known story of how most Americans first reached the national parks — via one of the longest motor routes of the day, the Park-to-Park Highway. The two-part series traces the key players and obstacles involved in creating the highway, the pioneering 5,000-mile drive to all 12 National Parks (before gas stations and paved roads), the "See America First" civic movement and the first stirrings of the great American road-trip.

Episode One: See America First

8 p.m.

At a time when train travel to the National Parks was only for the wealthy, this program follows the convergence of U.S. Land being set aside for all people, the development of the “autos for the everyman” and the need to escape the drone of WWI and the 1918 flu pandemic. With this need for release, 12 intrepid motorists embark upon the 1920 inaugural tour of the National Park-to-Park Highway. Traveling 5,000 miles over 76 days to promote the need for good roads, these individuals also explore the idea of what it means to ‘See America First’ while touring in the western United States, instead of visiting their ancestry in war torn Europe.

Episode Two: Welcome Home

9 p.m.

Continue the journey of the 1920 inaugural tour of the National Park-to-Park Highway. Tour members are faced with the decision to turn back or journey on as they are without their leader. With some of the most magnificent vistas still ahead, they learn what it really means to be road weary, but at the same time find the pure joy of a true American experience –The Road Trip.