In honor of the nation’s 250th anniversary, USA TODAY is spending a year looking back at some of the journeys that helped define America’s identity.
Travel has always defined the American spirit. From early pioneering expeditions and night escapes from bondage to modern road trips, Americans are a people on the move: restless, ambitious, and innovative.
In honor of our nation’s 250th anniversary, reporters from USA TODAY and USA TODAY Network will retrace some of our country’s most iconic journeys, taking you from past to present to explore, celebrate and remember who we are as a nation.

