In the modern era, Americans typically use cars to get from point A to point B, but before cars existed, trains were one of the most common ways to make long-distance travel a reality. Railroad history in south central Kentucky dates back to 1836 with the Bowling Green Portage Railroad, which brought freight and passengers from the Barren River directly to the old courthouse downtown. In 1859, the first iteration of the L&N Depot opened, establishing a direct route from Louisville to Nashville and making Bowling Green a key stop along the way.