Object Record
Images
Metadata
Object Name |
Board |
Source |
Dover Museum |
Iowa History Era Tag |
Statehood and the Civil War Era (1847-1868) |
Chronological Tag |
Civil War and Reconstruction (1850-1877) |
Catalog Number |
2018.013.002 |
Credit line |
Dover Museum - New London, Iowa |
Description |
This wood plank was part of the Burlington and Mount Pleasant plank road, one of three plank roads built in Iowa. The plank road was built by the Burlington and Mount Pleasant Plank Road Company, which was organized in 1849. The Iowa Legislature authorized plank roads because they provided a convenient and reliable system of travel. Content can be used with the following standards: 4th grade SS 4.25 Technological Changes in a lesson on the construction of roadways and buildings in Iowa. For any use other than instructional resources, please check with the organization that owns this item regarding copyright restrictions. |
Additional Research & Sources |
The transition from dirt roads to established roadways created better travelling conditions nation-wide. Plank roadways helped with the transition, where wooden planks would be placed onto logs on roads to create a flat surface for horses, wagons and early vehicle use. Ditches were dug on each side of the road for water drainage and bridges were built over major waterways. Over time, the wooden planks would warp or rot away and were eventually replaced with gravel roads. |
Notes on Related Objects |
Object is related to the following library resources, which can be found by searching the catalog number in the advanced search section: Catalog #: 2018.045.019- History of Des Moines County, Iowa and Its People 2018.045.040 Biographical Review of Henry County, Iowa 2018.045.158- The History of Henry County 2018.045.159- History of Transportation, Henry County 2018.045.190- Iowa’s Historic Automobile Roads |
Primary/Secondary Source |
Significant - State/National |
County Tag |
Des Moines |Henry |
Multimedia Links |
Click here to view/hear the file. |
Search Terms |
Automobiles and Trucking Early Transportation Towns Transportation Road construction |
Legal Status |
Ownership of this resource is held by the Dover Museum and has been provided here for educational purposes only, specifically for use in the Iowa Museum Association's "Teaching Iowa History" project. It may not be downloaded, reproduced or distributed in any format without written permission from the Rights Holder. For information on U.S. and International copyright laws, consult an attorney. |
