The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1956-11-16
WE LIVE ON THE
LONGEST HIGHWAY
I'M N. CAROLINA
U. S. "a Stretches 500 Miles From
Manfeo to Murphy-Moun.
fains to Ocean
By JOHN COREY
I'm the News and Observer)

/
lin the News and Observer)
Roads made ancient Rome ;
world empire and roads ar,
making modern North Carolina ;
great state.
Our finely weaved cobweb o.
paved roads connecting our rura
areas, towns and cities is proba
bly, one of the most extensive il
United States.
Reigning over this labyrinth Of
concrete and asphalt are High.
ways Ga, 20 and 421-the three
arteries completely stretching
across the state from its Atlantic
Ocean eastern boundary to the
mountainous Tennessee border in
the West.
Longest of these daddy Long
legs" highways is "a, extending
900 miles over coastal plain
plateau and mountainous terrain
Tar Heels possessing bents for
discovering physical assets of the
state can get their moneys worth
by trekking over this route in
auto. It offers nearly perfect
cross section view Of the Old
North State.
No. GA begins on the Outer
Banks near Mays Head. 1t bridges
westard over Roanoke Sound to
Roanoke Island and hops two fer
ries to cross Croatan Sound and
Alligator River before hitting
mainland proper.
1t then heads across swamplands
of Ttrrell, Washington and Mar
tin counties, slices through tobac-
colands near Rocky Mount, bisecta
the capital city of Raleigh, passes
through the hilly Piedmont to Lex
ington area, joins 70 as one high
way from Statesville to Morgan.
ton and then hops the Southeast.
ern mountains to Tennessee line
On the Outer Banks one car
take a dip in waters of the At.
lantic Ocean at an arms throw
distance from the highway.
On Roanoke Island the famous
'Lost Colony" summer outdoor
drama plays only a few hundred
feet from it.
In Tyrrell County the highway
forms the main street of Column
bia, a fishing and potato growing
center.
1t touches the huge pulp mill
at Plymouth, goes through tobac-
co warehouse SECTIONS of William
ston, Robersonville and Rocky
Mount and passes the capitol al
Raleigh. -a al o.,
Straight Line r'
The artery makes a practically
straight line connection between
Pittsboro and Siler City, textile
and furniture towns.
It skins by the industrial Pied
mont centers of Lexington, States
vile, and Hickory before reaching
the mountains.
From Morganton it darts south
ward toward Spindale, then turns
right to Chimney Rock, glances
southwark again to Hendersonville,
the apple center, and then zigzags
southwestward.
1t traverses beautiful Pisgah
Forest and National Forest. Dot
ting it's flanks along the way are
the waters of Lakes Sapphire,
Glenville, Aquone, Hiawasse and
Hiwassee.
At Brasstown the John c.
Campbell Folk School is passed
Here skilled natives make handi-
crafts and practice scientific agri-
culture under direction of the
unique school.
Few miles west of Murphy
Highway 81 squirms through An
gellico Gap and leaves Tar Heel
soil to enter Tennessee.
And if the 600 miles of the
route in North Carolina isn't
enough to satisfy the travellers
appetite, there's plenty mileage
left to be devoured. Highway 81
extends completely across the
continent to Pacific Ocean, over
2,400 miles away.