Near Grantsville in Garrett County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Keyser's Ridge
Living with Extreme Weather
— The Road That Built The Nation —
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), July 17, 2020
"I saw the wind blow so hard on Keyser's Ridge, that it took six men to hold the hair on one man's head."
In the early days of the National Road, this stretch was often "snowed up" with drifts up to twenty feet deep. Stagecoaches and freight wagons were stopped here for days at a time. When they could travel, they sometimes left the blocked roadbeds and rolled across the nearby "skirting glades."
Keyser's Ridge is no place for the faint hearted. It tops a bald, bleak range, the last of three mountains west of Cumberland that are nearly 3,000 feet high. The weather here is extreme. Dense fog, howling winds, and deep snow stop even modern day travelers in their tracks.
In spite of the treacherous winter weather, numerous inns were tucked into the eastern slope of the mountain. They have welcomed hardy travelers throughout the seasons since the early nineteenth century.
[Caption:]
Leo Beachy photographed Keysers Ridge in the 1930s. In the days before large snow plows, hired men had to shovel pathways through the huge snow drifts.
Erected by America's Byways.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Industry & Commerce • Natural Features • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the The Historic National Road series list.
Location. 39° 41.65′ N, 79° 14.797′ W. Marker is near Grantsville, Maryland, in Garrett County. Marker is on National Pike (Alternate U.S. 40) 0.1 miles east of U.S. 40, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4098 National Pike, Grantsville MD 21536, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Negro Mountain (approx. 2.1 miles away); a different marker also named Negro Mountain (approx. 2.1 miles away); Bear Camp (approx. 2.7 miles away); The State Line (approx. 3.3 miles away); National Road (approx. 3.7 miles away in Pennsylvania); Pennsylvania (approx. 3.7 miles away in Pennsylvania); General Braddock’s 5th Camp (approx. 3.9 miles away); The Fuller-Baker House (approx. 4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Grantsville.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has replaced the linked marker.
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), July 17, 2020
Credits. This page was last revised on March 24, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 19, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 1,228 times since then and 352 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 19, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.