Kaskaskia-Cahokia Trail

Columbia's Main Street began as the Kaskaskia-Cahokia Trail, a path created by Indians as long as 11,000 B.C. when they traveled from Old Kaskaskia [Kaskaskia Island] to Cahokia. The trail played an integral part in French colonization and remained a main road through the founding of Illinois as a state. With the coming of settlers to the area, the path became well used and was widened to accommodate wagons and stagecoaches. To aid travelers as they journeyed through Columbia, an inn, stores, saloons, and a post office were established. A streetcar later ran down the center of Main Street as continued growth necessitated better transportation.

Columbia, Illinois · United States