Should times long past be forgot at me? Or should I be the start of someone new?

Incredible land of intricate imprints, a variety of voices and vibrant vistas, where history hums and heritage holds the heart in harmony. Bordered by bands of burnt sky and bountiful botany, dotted with the wheel of law.

An American folk hero who outpowered a steam engine. He shared a first name with a large and merry Englishman of ballad fame. He shared his last name with an English monarch of large appetites.

I chased pure gold in lead and stone, with signs and seals in tongues unknown. I failed the prize that made me famed, yet mastered change and earned my name.

I joined a girl and her dog, on a brick laden road, all to find her way home. My own goals were smart, though I didn't figure that out, until someone told me directly. Who am I, a nine letter word, that generally is not a pronoun?