Hancock in Washington County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Hancock
The Busiest Village on the Road
— The Road That Built The Nation —
“After the exhilaration of a gallop down the mountain without breaks, what appetite would not be set on edge, what refinement of palate displeased by venison cutlets, or even ham and eggs?”
Harper’s Magazine, 1879
By 1840, Hancock was a major stop on the National Road. Here, travelers could prepare for the nearby mountains or rest after the long up and down ride from Cumberland.
As many as sixteen “gayly painted” coaches sporting names like the National Road or Stockton, the Good Intent, People’s and June Bug Stage Lines rolled into town daily. Prancing teams of horses pulled the stagecoaches filled with the famous and common, jostled together by the rough mountain ride. Coaches and wagons were soon replaced by a canal and a railroad. Today, two interstate highways crisscross this narrowest piece of Maryland.
Sidebar An Interesting, Historic Town
With the advent of the automobile came some of our first travel guides. Robert Bruce traveled the National Road in 1916 in an effort to provide the traveler with thorough maps, good driving directions, and interesting bits of information. “Hancock is a prosperous-looking place...an interesting, historic town,” he noted. Today, his map of Hancock provides us a glimpse into the past. Note the
this page online
Erected by America's Byways.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the The Historic National Road series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1879.
Location. 39° 41.9′ N, 78° 10.683′ W. Marker is in Hancock, Maryland, in Washington County. Marker is at the intersection of Western Maryland Rail Trail and North Church Street, on the right when traveling west on Western Maryland Rail Trail. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 13 E Church St, Hancock MD 21750, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A different marker also named Hancock (a few steps from this marker); Gettysburg Campaign (a few steps from this marker); St. Thomas Episcopal Church (a few steps from this marker); Hancock Station (a few steps from this marker); A panorama of the original Maryland-West Virginia river bridge / "The Light House" (within shouting distance of this marker); St. Thomas Church (within shouting distance of this marker); In Honor and Remembrance (within shouting distance of this marker); A New Beginning (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hancock.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2022. It was originally submitted on March 3, 2008, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,795 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 25, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
