National Road

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The National Road is a historic early 19th-century U.S. highway that served as a major route for westward expansion and commerce, stretching from Maryland into the Midwest.


Statements (45)
Predicate Object
instanceOf United States federal road
historic highway
alsoKnownAs Cumberland Road
National Pike
authorizedBy President Thomas Jefferson
builtBy United States federal government
category Historic trails and roads in the United States
Roads on the National Register of Historic Places in the United States
connectedTo Baltimore, Maryland
Ohio River region
constructionStartDate 1811
constructionTechnique stone and gravel roadbed
country United States
culturalSignificance symbol of American expansionism
declineCause rise of railroads
endPoint Vandalia, Illinois
eraOfPeakUse mid-19th century
follows Cumberland Road
fundingMethod federally funded internal improvement
heritageStatus listed segments on the National Register of Historic Places
historicalPeriod Early Republic of the United States
influenced development of towns along its route
economic growth of the Old Northwest
legislatedBy United States Congress
locatedIn Eastern United States
Midwestern United States
modernSuccessor U.S. Route 40
opened early 19th century
partOf United States Numbered Highway System precursor
passesThrough Illinois
Indiana
Maryland
Ohio
Pennsylvania
West Virginia
purpose facilitate migration to the West
improve transportation of goods
link Atlantic seaboard with interior
roadSurface originally macadamized in many sections
significance first major improved highway built by the U.S. federal government
major route for interstate commerce
major route for westward expansion
startPoint Cumberland, Maryland
usedFor stagecoach travel
wagon freight traffic

Referenced by (3)

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