Near Big Pool in Washington County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The National Road
The Road that Built the Nation
| — | The Historic National Road - The Road That Built The Nation | — |
Photographed by J. J. Prats, October 22, 2006
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
this page online
(sidebar) Built in the early 1800s, a paved highway west was America’s first federal project. Much of the approximately 800 mile long National Road is still marked by historic milestones.
(photo caption) Are we there yet? These early 20th century travelers speak to all of us who at one time or another couldn’t wait to get out of the car. Today, we have the luxury of taking our modern interstates for granted. But who can’t relate to those faces?
Erected by America's Byways.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Roads & Vehicles. 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. Marker has been permanently removed. It was located near 39° 37.475′ N, 78° 1.049′
Photographed by J. J. Prats, October 22, 2006
2. This Marker is on the Right
We have been informed that this marker is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.
Regionally, this marker was in the Baltimore Metro Region and in Western Maryland. It was also in the American Mid-Atlantic, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it found itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 5 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Big Pool Junction (here, next to this marker); Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Ernstville Road Bridge (approx. 0.3 miles away); a different marker also named The National Road (approx. one mile away); Western Maryland (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Big Pool.
Another marker is no longer nearby. Gettysburg Campaign (was approx. one mile away but has been permanently removed).
More about this marker. This marker has been erected almost two miles away from the National Road, now U.S. Route 40.
Additional commentary.
1. Likely missing marker
This right hand historical display marker disappears from street view imagery on Google Earth between 2013 and October 2024. Aerial imagery shows the marker still present in November 2020, but missing in 2025. So the marker was evidently removed between November 2020 and October 2024.
— Submitted September 16, 2025, by Steven Varner of Escondido, California.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 19, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 19, 2007, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 2,031 times since then and 54 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 19, 2007, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.
