Cumberland in Allegany County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The Narrows
An Easier Route for the National Road
| | The Road That Built The Nation | |
Photographed by Bradley Owen, June 26, 2021
1. The Narrows Marker
At first, the National Road climbed west from Cumberland up and over Haystack Mountain. In the 1830s, when the road was rebuilt, a new route was chosen. It would be a mile longer but the grade was substantially decreased so that horse teams could pull twice the weight. The new route took advantage of the Narrows, a natural gorge cut by Wills Creek between Haystack Mountain and Wills Mountain.
Traffic along the National Road grew rapidly when the new route was completed in 1834 and a new bridge opened in 1836. When the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad reached Cumberland in 1842, National Road travel to and from the west increased even more. The region prospered.
Railroad tracks were soon laid through the Narrows. Two short line railroads connected Cumberland to the growing Georges Creek Valley coal region. Ultimately, travel by rail eclipsed that of the National Road, and traffic declined substantially in the years that followed. The invention of the automobile brought a revival to the old road as motorists enjoyed sightseeing in the Narrows.
(Sidebar):
The Legend of Lovers Leap
There is a local legend about the cliffs above the Narrows. When a young Indian princess and her lover were forbidden to marry, they leapt to their death from the cliff.
Erected by America's
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Natural Features • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the The Historic National Road series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1834.
Location. 39° 39.78′ N, 78° 46.86′ W. Marker is in Cumberland, Maryland, in Allegany County. It is on National Highway Southwest (Alternate U.S. 40) 0.4 miles north of North Mechanic Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 10300 National Hwy SW, Cumberland MD 21502, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Baltimore Metro Region and in Western Maryland. It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking
Photographed by Mike Wintermantel
2. The Narrows Marker
Another marker is no longer nearby. The Narrows (has been replaced with this marker).
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has been replaced with the linked marker, which has subtle differences in subtitles and credited erecting organizations.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 31, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 24, 2024, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. This page has been viewed 323 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on June 26, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. 2. submitted on March 31, 2024, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
