An autographed hardcover copy of "America's Road: A Photographic Journey Across The National Road From Baltimore To East St. Louis" by Russel C. Poole.  
     This book is a text and visual documentation of the National Road and key points of interest, both historic and current, along the entire route as it travels over 700 miles through a six state corridor. 
      "As the first Federally funded highway in the United States the National Road has a unique place in American history. Championed by George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Albert Gallatin and others during the late 1700s and early 1800s the National Road was envisioned as a means to open the Northwest Territories to settlement and trade. Authorized by Congress and signed by President Thomas Jefferson on March 29, 1806, the vision began to become a reality. It would take until 1811 for the first section of the construction to begin and until the 1840s for the road to be completed. Sadly the National Road ended at Vandalia, Illinois, short of the intended goal of the Mississippi River, as the coming railroads overtook it and made for less expensive and more efficient travel. The state of Illinois ultimately continued the effort and finished the National Road to the Mississippi River at East St. Louis. Today the National Road is part of the Scenic American Byways system. America's Road takes you, the reader, along the six state corridor the historic National Road travels through and provides both a visual guide of key sites and an overview of the National Road's history."  (Product description from Amazon.com)