Dallas Downtown Historic District in Dallas County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Central National Road
Photographed By Kayla Harper, April 26, 2020
1. Central National Road Marker
During the early days of the Republic of Texas, settlers and pioneers coming from the United States entered Texas by crossing the Red River in Northwest Red River County. On the north side of that crossing was the terminus of a U.S. Military Highway. In 1844, the Congress of the Republic of Texas appointed a commission to lay out a road connecting the crossing on the Red River to the Trinity River in Central Dallas County. Surveyed by George W. Stell (1793-1870), the 130-mile road was to be thirty feet wide, with bridges at least fifteen feet wide, and all tree stumps cut within twelve inches of the ground. Congress named the new route the Central National Road.
Passing through Lamar, Fannin, Hunt, Collin, and Rockwall counties, the road's terminus in Dallas intersected with the Preston Road (1,000' NNW), which had been opened in 1840 by a group of Texas soldiers under Col. William G. Cooke (1808-1847) to connect the Red River and Austin.
The Central National Road, via its intersection in Dallas with the Preston-Austin Road, connected north and south Texas, creating greater access for pioneers to settle in all areas of the Republic.
Incise on base: Sponsored by Thomas J. Rusk Chapter
this page online
Erected 1986 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 6649.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Man-Made Features • Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1844.
Location. 32° 46.975′ N, 96° 48.428′ W. Marker is in Dallas, Texas, in Dallas County. It is in the Dallas Downtown Historic District. Marker is at the intersection of Munger Avenue and Market Street, on the right when traveling west on Munger Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 808 Munger Avenue, Dallas TX 75202, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Higginbotham-Pearlstone Building (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Log Cabin Pioneers of Dallas County (approx. ¼ mile away); Dallas County (approx. ¼ mile away); Formerly The Texas School Book Depository Building (approx. ¼ mile away); Site of Sanger Brothers Department Store (approx. ¼ mile away); Dallas County Records Building (approx. ¼ mile away); Welcome to Dealey Plaza (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Welcome to Dealey Plaza (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dallas.
Photographed By Steve Gustafson, January 5, 2007
2. Central National Road Marker
Photographed By Kayla Harper, April 26, 2020
3. Central National Road Marker
Photographed By Kayla Harper, April 26, 2020
4. Central National Road Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 20, 2010, by Steve Gustafson of Lufkin, Texas. This page has been viewed 2,081 times since then and 49 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on April 26, 2020, by Kayla Harper of Dallas, Texas. 2. submitted on March 20, 2010, by Steve Gustafson of Lufkin, Texas. 3, 4. submitted on April 26, 2020, by Kayla Harper of Dallas, Texas. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
