How might goods have been transported between Columbus and Indianapolis?

* By foot or horseback. This was the most common method of transporting goods between Columbus and Indianapolis before the construction of the National Road.

* By wagon. Wagons were used to transport larger loads of goods, but they were slower than foot or horseback.

* By riverboat. The Ohio River and the White River were important transportation routes for goods between Columbus and Indianapolis. Riverboats were used to transport large quantities of goods, and they were faster than wagons.

* By canal. The Whitewater Canal was built between 1836 and 1847 to connect the Ohio River to the Great Lakes. The canal was used to transport goods between Columbus and Indianapolis, but it was slower than riverboats.

After 1847

* By railroad. The National Road was completed in 1847, and it quickly became the primary route for transporting goods between Columbus and Indianapolis. The National Road was a toll road, and it was faster and more reliable than any of the other transportation methods that had been used previously.

* By truck. Trucks were not used to transport goods between Columbus and Indianapolis until the early 20th century. Trucks were faster and more versatile than railroads, and they eventually replaced railroads as the primary mode of transportation for goods.