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The Mother Road of the South Hwy 80 with Wesley Harris

May 13, 2019 @ 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm

“Night at the Museum with Wesley Harris “The Mother Road Of The South” Highway 80
Monday May 13, 2019 will be 66th museum speaking event since 2007. Lincoln parish historian Wesley Harris will be making his second presentation for 2019. The importance of Highway 80 to the economic, cultural, and historical legacy of North Louisiana will be the subject of the evening.
U.S. Highway 80: America’s “True Mother Road” U.S. Highway 80 is the only American thoroughfare to stretch continuously from coast to coast. While much of it has been abandoned or decommissioned, before the Interstate System was created, Highway 80, also known as the Dixie Overland Highway, was the primary east-west highway in the southern half of the nation.
It originally ran from Savannah, Georgia to San Diego, California. Some have called it America’s “True Mother Road,” referring to the moniker given to U.S. Route 66, advancing the idea that U.S. 80 probably carried more people west seeking new fortunes than the shorter route running from Chicago to Los Angeles.
U.S. Highway 80 has been the scene of significant historical events. President John F. Kennedy was traveling on U.S. 80 in Dallas when he was shot and killed. One of the best known civil rights protests in American history—the series of marches from Selma to Montgomery and “Bloody Sunday”—occurred on U.S. 80. Within Louisiana, U.S. 80 stretches completely across the state from Mississippi to Texas, passing numerous military facilities, three 4-year state universities, and most of the parish seats of the parishes it crosses. Highway 80 served as the “main street” for Tallulah, Delhi, Monroe, West Monroe, Ruston, Arcadia, Minden, Bossier City, and Shreveport. Before construction of Interstate 20, most of those city’s movie theaters, motor hotels, service stations, courthouses, and major businesses were located on U.S. 80.
The museum events are held in the Media/Learning center at the Dorcheat Historical Association Museum, 116 Pearl Street, Minden, La. Museum doors will open at 5:30 p.m., with first-come, first-serve seating. Program begins at 6:00 p.m. ADMISSION IS FREE (DONATIONS ACCEPTED) with potluck desserts and snacks welcome.

For more information contact Schelley Brown Francis at 318-377-3002 or visit www.museuminminden.blogspot.com to sign up for the museum email blast. You can also find the museum on Facebook. To learn more about Webster Parish’s rich history visit the Dorcheat Historical Association Museum located at 116 Pearl Street in Minden. Museum hours; closed on Monday, Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. (closed from 1-2 for lunch), Saturday CLOSED. The museum admission is free. Also open for special tours and rental by appointment.

Details

Date:
May 13, 2019
Time:
5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Event Category:
Website:
https://www.facebook.com/events/622626474825624/

Organizer

Dorcheat Historical Museum
Phone
318.377.3002

Venue

Dorcheat Historical Museum
116 Pearl St.
Minden, 71055 United States
+ Google Map
Phone
318-377-3002