Crossroads of the Nation: The Hidden History of the Railroads of Illinois
The saying, "a hog can travel non-stop from coast to coast, but a person must change in Chicago," confirms the Windy City's status as the hub of the American railroad system. But Chicago is only one aspect of the fascinating history of Illinois railroads. Simon Cordery, railroad historian and historical advisor to the National Railroad Hall of Fame, surveys the expansion of the railroad industry in the Land of Lincoln, demonstrates how the Prairie State fits into the pattern of national railroad development, and explores the national political significance of the history of railroads in Illinois in the nineteenth century. All aboard!
Simon Cordery holds a PhD in History from the University of Texas at Austin and is currently an Associate Professor of History at Monmouth College. He has received several awards and fellowships for his research projects and has been the Historical Advisor to the National Railroad Hall of Fame Project in Galesburg, Illinois since 2002. Simon recently published a biography of Mother Jones, Mother Jones: Raising Cain and Consciousness.
