<p>The Appalachian Trail stretches more than 2,000 miles from Maine to Georgia. It was the brainchild of an idealistic forester who drew inspiration from a mountain top in Vermont. </p>

The Appalachian Trail stretches more than 2,000 miles from Maine to Georgia. It was the brainchild of an idealistic forester who drew inspiration from a mountain top in Vermont.

<p>The Appalachian Trail stretches more than 2,000 miles from Maine to Georgia. It was the brainchild of an idealistic forester who drew inspiration from a mountain top in Vermont.&nbsp;</p>

Off the Path Revisited: Where the Appalachian Trail Began

For Davis Dunavin, being a journalist is a little bit like being a cross between a wandering storyteller and a detective. For nearly eight years, he's set sail to learn about pirate history, hiked the Appalachian Trail, spent the night in Lizzie Borden's house and browsed the books in Mark Twain's library, all in search of the hidden stories buried in everyday places across the Northeast.This season on Off The Path, he digs deep to explore the origins of things that are ubiquitous, Teddy Roosevelt, the tuxedo, the first video game, as well as those stories we think we already know, like the first airplane flight or stories that aren't as well-known, like the beginnings of the artist behind the Barack Obama “Hope” poster. But every single episode involves an element of surprise, an ironic twist or a fascinating connection you might not expect when the story begins.

Share Off the Path Revisited: Where the Appalachian Trail Began

Sign up to save your podcasts

Off the Path Revisited: Where the Appalachian Trail Began

Off the Path Revisited: Where the Appalachian Trail Began

More shows like Off the Path

This American Life

Freakonomics Radio

Planet Money

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

The Moth

On the Media

The Splendid Table: Conversations & Recipes For Curious Cooks & Eaters

The Daily

Up First from NPR

Ologies with Alie Ward

Throughline

The Ezra Klein Show