Half-hour film set in Western Maryland weaves together the saga of a centuries-old military road with the present-day search for its archaeological remains
Maryland Public Television (MPT) will premiere the original documentary Braddock’s Road: A Legacy Unearthedon Wednesday, November 30 at 7 p.m. on MPT-HD and online at mpt.org/livestream. The half-hour program will also be available to stream on demand using MPT’s online video player and the PBS Video App. A preview is available at https://youtu.be/HrnQHUMrqj4.
Produced by MPT in cooperation with the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA), Braddock’s Road: A Legacy Unearthed tells the story of one of the nation’s most infamous military roads – from the soldiers who built it, to the settlers who traveled it, to the archaeologists working to unearth its legacy.
During the French and Indian War (1754-1763), British General Edward Braddockwas tasked with removing the French from Fort Duquesne in what is now Pittsburgh. Beginning near Fort Cumberland in present day Allegany County, nearly 2,500 personnel – including George Washington, at that time an aide-de-camp to General Braddock – contributed to the construction of a 12-foot-wide, 125-mile-long military road through the Appalachian Mountains into Pennsylvania to enable the transport of English soldiers, wagons, and artillery for the mission.
Although the mission ultimately failed, Braddock’s Road itself played a pivotal role in America’s westward expansion during the decades that followed, serving as a primary conduit for the movement of people and goods until it was replaced in the early 19th century by the National Road.
Long since abandoned, traces of this historic route still remain, hidden beneath soil and brush. In 2016, a new state road construction project – the U.S. Route 219 (US 219) expansion – spurred a team of archaeologists from MDOT SHA to revisit this historic landscape with shovels and metal detectors in hand.
“Braddock’s Road: A Legacy Unearthed is part epic adventure, part archaeological mystery. Viewers will join colonial road crews as they chop and dig their way across the rugged Appalachian frontier, and visit modern-day dig sites where archaeologists pull historical puzzle pieces from the soil,” explains MPT Producer Stefanie Robey. “It’s a story that spans centuries, and sheds light on the ways in which roads have shaped not only the landscape of the United States but also the very course of its history.”
Experts interviewed during Braddock’s Road: A Legacy Unearthed are:
- Dr. Julie Schablitsky, chief, Cultural Resources, MDOT, who leads a team of archaeologists tasked with searching for a missing link in Braddock’s Road near the planned (now completed) US 219 expansion in Western Maryland.
- Dr. David L. Preston, General Mark. W. Clark Distinguished Chair of History, The Citadel, and author of the book Braddock’s Defeat, who details the road’s construction, as well as its role in shaping travel, commerce, and culture over hundreds of years.
- Todd Friend, project engineer on the US 219 expansion, MDOT SHA, who describes MDOT’s modern-day road-building techniques and equipment, which are in stark contrast with those used by General Braddock’s crew in the 18th century.
The film also features local French and Indian War reenactors who portray the colonial road crews, including members of the Joshua Beall’s Company of the Maryland Forces, based out of Fort Frederick in Washington County, and members of the 2nd Company of the Virginia Regiment, based out of the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia.
Further information about the program can be found on MPT’s website at mpt.org/braddocksroad/.
About Maryland Public Television
Maryland Public Television (MPT) is a statewide, public-supported TV network and Public Broadcasting Service member offering entertaining, educational, and inspiring content delivered by traditional broadcasting and streaming on TVs, computers, and mobile devices. A state agency, it operates under the auspices of the Maryland Public Broadcasting Commission. MPT creates local, regional, and national content and is a frequent winner of regional Emmy® awards. MPT’s commitment to educators, parents, caregivers, and learners of all ages is delivered through instructional events and Thinkport.org. MPT’s year-round community engagement activities connect viewers with resources on a wide range of topics. For more information visit mpt.org.
