Indiana's Lost Michigan Road

Discover the history of Indiana's lost Michigan Road through this collection of stunning photographs.

Indiana became a state in 1816, and soon after, roads were considered for the state to help bring in settlers. The first south-to-north road in the state, going from the Ohio River to Lake Michigan, was proposed in 1818 by Rep. William Hendricks. Deciding on where the road would begin on the Ohio River resulted in some discussions before Madison was finally selected. Michigan City was easily chosen as the northern end of the road. From Indianapolis north, South Bend was picked to avoid the Kankakee River's swamps and marshes. It was called Michigan Road because it went to Lake Michigan. Construction on the road began in 1830 and was completed in 1837, and it covered 260 miles. Since 1837, the road has undergone many changes, but in the 21st century, most of the road is lost to history. The Historic Michigan Road Byway was created in 2011 to showcase the original route.

W.C. Madden has published many titles for Arcadia Publishing, but Indiana's Lost Michigan Road is his first statewide publication. Madden traveled to county historical societies around the state for historic photographs, postcards, and information about Michigan Road.