Cumberland in Allegany County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The National Road
The Road that Built the Nation
— The Road That Built The Nation —
Photographed By Beverly Pfingsten, August 9, 2013
1. The National Road Marker
“… so many happy people, restless in the midst of abundance.” —Alexis de Tocqueville, 1840.
Americans are an adventurous people. From past to present, they have used feet, horses, wagons, stagecoaches, canals, railroads, bicycles, automobiles, trucks and buses to “perpetually change their plans and abodes.”
Centuries ago, George Washington dreamed of a highway joining east and west. In 1806, Thomas Jefferson made that roadway a reality when he risked his Presidency by authorizing, “an Act to regulate the laying out and making [of] a road from Cumberland in the State of Maryland to the State of Ohio.”
The next generation built that “United States Road,” a thirty-foot wide, crushed stone thoroughfare that spanned rivers, traversed mountains and opened up America’s western frontier to the Mississippi. Merchants, traders and families from all over the world journeyed along this route in their quest to claim land, expand markets and form new lives.
Today, you can trace that same path along the Historic National Road. Discover the places, events and stories that shaped this nation. To have your own adventure, stop by any Welcome Center or local visitor center to speak to a travel counselor and pick up a Historic National Road map-guide.
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Erected by America's Byways; Maryland National Road Association.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #03 Thomas Jefferson, and the The Historic National Road series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1840.
Location. 39° 38.959′ N, 78° 45.794′ W. Marker is in Cumberland, Maryland, in Allegany County. Marker is on W. Harrison Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Cumberland MD 21502, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Life on the Canal (here, next to this marker); Boat Building at the Cumberland Basin (here, next to this marker); Cumberland Terminus: Yesterday and Today (a few steps from this marker); Civil War in Allegany County (a few steps from this marker); Gettysburg Campaign (a few steps from this marker); Cumberland (within shouting distance of this marker); Western Maryland Railway Station
National Park Service, Thomas Stone National Historic Site, September 16, 2019
2. Landscape surrounding marker.
Note #1: Viewing south towards marker.
Also see . . . Historic National Road, Maryland Office of Tourism. (Submitted on September 24, 2019.)
National Park Service, Thomas Stone National Historic Site, September 16, 2019
3. Mule and Handler Statue (foreground) and Western Maryland Train Station (background).
Note #1: Viewing east towards statue and structure.
Note #2: Marker is about 100 feet southwest of statue.
Note #2: Marker is about 100 feet southwest of statue.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 24, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 9, 2013, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 659 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 9, 2013, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. 2, 3. submitted on September 24, 2019.
