Near Friendsville in Garrett County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

MISSING

SEE LOCATION SECTION

The National Road

The Road that Built the Nation

— The Historic National Road - The Road That Built The Nation —

The National Road Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, May 11, 2015

1. The National Road Marker

Inscription.

“…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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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.

[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 is missing. It was located near 39° 40.619′ N, 79° 22.481′ W. Marker was near Friendsville, Maryland, in Garrett County. It could be reached from Interstate 68 at milepost 6, 2.7 miles Friendsville Road (State Route 42). Located at the Youghiougheny Overlook rest area on I-68 Eastbound upper car parking spaces. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 6172 National Freeway, Friendsville MD 21531, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this location, measured as the

The National Road Marker at overlook. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, May 11, 2015

2. The National Road Marker at overlook.

crow flies: At The Crossroads Of Conflict (here, next to this marker); The Youghiogheny River (within shouting distance of this marker); J.W. McCullough, Lumbering and Mining Titan (approx. 1.7 miles away); Friendsville Baseball Fever, Cider Mill, Shanty Town (approx. 1.7 miles away); Bear Creek Lumber and Meat Market (approx. 1.7 miles away); Vietnam Memorial (approx. 1.8 miles away); Walnut Street and First Avenue – F.G. Fox & Sons (approx. 1.8 miles away); Yough Motors, Confectionary and Bandstand (approx. 1.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Friendsville.

Other markers no longer nearby. Gettysburg Campaign (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); Youghiougheny Overlook Welcome Center (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed).

Also see . . . Scenic Byway: Historic National Road. Visit Maryland (Submitted on February 18, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Photographed by Craig Doda, October 18, 2019

3. The National Road Marker

The National Road Marker is missing. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bradley Owen, June 24, 2022

4. The National Road Marker is missing.

View from marker overlook. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, May 11, 2015

5. View from marker overlook.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 29, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 23, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 675 times since then and 26 times this year. Last updated on June 25, 2022, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 23, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. 3. submitted on December 3, 2020, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. 4. submitted on June 25, 2022, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. 5. submitted on May 23, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.