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| US 1, the Beginning ©Allison Sikes |
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Within the last two months, we have visited the end of US Route 1, mile 0, in Key West, Florida and the very beginning of it in Fort Kent, Maine where the bridge crosses the St. John River into Canada. There is something special about seeing both ends of an historic passageway north and south in our country. Sometimes, despite its many traffic lights, we use US 1 for an alternate highway as it parallels I-95 in Virginia.
The highway is truly historic with a beginning in the 1920s, nearly 100 years ago. It is the longest north-south highway in the United States. The sign at Fort Kent indicates it has 2446 "original miles". Wikipedia says it runs 2369 miles. Much of it was built along the fall line, and it connects many of the major east coast cites, including Richmond, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Baltimore, New York, Boston, and Miami.
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| US 1, the End ©Mary Montague Sikes |
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The End sign in Key West is far less dramatic than the beginning in Ft. Kent. However, there are other signs in Key West with significance, including Cuba being only 90 miles away. It is also the southernmost point in the U.S. Ft. Kent is close to being the northernmost point in the continental United States.
Interesting to have visited both during the past few weeks. Wonder how long it would take to drive the route from beginning to end?
3 comments:
If you've taken it through the Carolinas, you've taken an interesting route.
It's always wild to see the end of a major road like that.
Hi Monti - fun to see ... I bet it'd take over 24 hours to drive ... but fascinating you've had a chance to see both ends ... cheers Hilary
Alex, we've taken Rt. 1 through the Carolinas a few times and enjoyed it.
Hilary, it would definitely take more than 24 hours to drive--lots of traffic lights in many places!
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