Biking from Franklin on the Allegheny Valley Trail, average travelers assume that the route they are biking on is nothing more than an ordinary trail in an ordinary town. Then, around the five-mile mark, they would see the massive Belmar Bridge rising in the distance. Today the bridge serves as a reminder of our region's rich history, recalling the times when oil wells dotted the landscape and railroads crisscrossed the countryside. About eight miles away, a large rock covered in intricate symbols and signs protrudes from the river. Centuries ago, Indian God Rock served as a waypoint for Native Americans who created the routes on which railroads were built. The Allegheny Valley, Samuel Justus and Sandycreek Trails built by Allegheny Valley Trails connect all eras of our region's history, from the Native American period to the glory days of the oil industry, to years of economic decline and our recent resurgence as a tourist and recreational centre. The long history of the land that became the local bike trails begins with the arrival of the first Native Americans in the region between 12,000 and 18,000 years ago. These early nomadic tribes came from the plains of the west and over the centuries created hunting trails through the wilderness (Shank 3). The presence of three major river crossings around the confluence of French Creek and the Allegheny River led to a greater concentration of trails around present-day Franklin. One of the intersections was near present-day Sixth Street on the Allegheny River while the other two were around Tenth Street and Thirteenth Street on French Creek (Brady 132-39). George Washington used the Tenth Street intersection as he passed through the area on a spec. ..... in the center of the paper ...... the tracks are part of the passage. Today the Rails-to-Trails movement is shifting its focus westward by continuing to improve and build new trails in the Mid-Atlantic (Sanders). Many young people today see Franklin as a small town with no special value, but the bike trail shows otherwise. While our region's glory days are long gone, today's community is strong. One hundred years ago, the people of Franklin built the Belmar Bridge, the three tunnels and all the railroads. Today, Franklin residents have built the 28 miles of paved bike paths that make up the Allegheny Valley Trail and the Sandy Creek Trail. The fact that we have these wonderful bike paths and many historic landmarks to enjoy by bike whenever we want is a testament to the continued strength of our community and the hard work of the Allegheny Valley Trails Association.