Our Pennsylvania Story
31
Lesson 13:
Our Transportation Systems
How did the turnpike get its
name?Many years ago, there
were no cars. Peoplewent places
by horse and carriage.Tomake
their roads better, peoplewanted
money from thosewho used the
roads. The cost to use the road
was called a “toll.”
Awooden polewas placed
across the road to stop a traveler.
The polewas called a “pike.” At
the pike, a person stopped to pay
the toll. Then the pikewas turned
and the personwent on his or her
way. Because the pikewas turned,
the roadwas called a “turnpike.”
The Pennsylvania Turnpike has
many tunnels. This makes travel
faster and easier.
Tracing Activity
Tracewater routes on a classroommap of the United States.
1. Delaware River to Delaware Bay to the Atlantic Ocean
2. Monongahela River to Ohio River toMississippi River to Gulf of Mexico
3. Lake Erie to Lake Huron to LakeMichigan to Lake Superior
4. Lake Erie to Lake Ontario to St Lawrence River to Atlantic Ocean
Writing It Down
Write a short description of themain idea of this lesson.
The Pennsylvania Turnpike
