Have you ever heard of the Forgotten Plank Roads of the Great Black Swamp? These wooden highways once crisscrossed the dense, muddy terrain of northwest Ohio, providing vital routes for settlers and traders. Built in the mid-1800s, these roads transformed travel in the region, making it possible to move goods and people through what was once an almost impassable area. Imagine the sound of wagon wheels clattering over wooden planks, the smell of fresh-cut timber, and the sight of endless swamp stretching out on either side. Today, these roads are mostly gone, but their legacy lives on in the stories and history of the area. Let’s take a closer look at how these plank roads changed life in the Great Black Swamp.