The Road That Changed Everything: How the Dixie Highway Was Born

Before there was Route 66, there was the Dixie Highway. Born in 1915 from a vision to connect the Midwest to the South, the Dixie Highway became one of America’s first great road networks. In this episode of Beyond the Exit, we explore how civic leaders, everyday citizens, and the Good Roads Movement came together to build a highway that changed the way Americans traveled. From Carl Fisher’s bold vision to the towns and workers who laid the pavement, this is the story of how the Dixie Highway was born — and why its legacy still matters today. "This video includes references to the article 'Kentuckians Were Determined to Get Out of the Mud' by W.O. Saunders (1925), published in the July–August 2005 issue of Kentucky Explorer (Vol. 20, No. 3). Used with permission of Kentucky Monthly / Vested Interest Publications, copyright holder." 🚗 Subscribe for more hidden histories of America’s roads: [channel link] 👍 Like the video if you love American road history! 🛣️ Share your memories of driving the Dixie Highway in the comments below. AMAZON AFFILIATE LINKS TO PRODUCTS WE LOVE: EZ66 GUIDE For Travelers - 5TH EDITION - https://amzn.to/4lVS4NA Route 66 Adventure Handbook: Full-Throttle Sixth Edition - https://amzn.to/44VNqZ0 Route 66: Return to the Road with Martin Milner - https://amzn.to/40oYMUe Route 66: The Mother Road 75th Anniversary Edition - https://amzn.to/453yuZc "Some images in this video were enhanced or generated with the assistance of AI. Additional photos and visuals are sourced from what are believed to be public domain or freely available archives. Every effort has been made to use images responsibly, and credit is provided where possible."