Is it true that the national road was built to connect indiana and illinois to the east

Abandoned brick National Road east of Marshall, IL

It had been seven long years since I last drove the National Road in Illinois. I was curious to see it again, so I drove it a couple Saturdays ago. The National Road was our nation’s first federally funded highway, stretching from Cumberland, Maryland to Vandalia, Illinois and passing through Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, and Indiana along the way. It was authorized in 1806 and built between 1811 and 1837. You might know the road in those states better as US 40, more or less.

From the state line to Effingham, from a 1925 road guide

The last segment of the National Road was built in Illinois, from the Indiana state line west to the state capital, which was Vandalia then. It was surveyed in 1828 all the way to St. Louis, and building commenced shortly thereafter. But funds ran out at Vandalia in 1837, and that’s where the road stopped. Funds actually started to thin out when the road reached Columbus, Ohio. Until then, the road was macadam (compacted crushed stone) all the way, and that was the finest road surface available then. West of Columbus the road was macadam only here and there. By the time the road reached Illinois, money allowed only removing the trees and grading (leveling) the dirt roadway. The road would be an impassable mud bog in all but dry, sunny weather.

Effingham to Vandalia and beyond, from a 1925 road guide

As railroads rose to prominence in the 1800s, the National Road became less important and was at best poorly maintained. In 1894, Thomas Searight wrote a book about the National Road in which he reported that this road, “grand and imposing” at its beginning, became so insignificant west of the Illinois state line that it simply disappeared into the prairie.

This, then, was the state of the National Road in Illinois. Towns were built along the road in hopes of a great prosperity, which never quite materialized. Some of these small towns did well enough to remain vital today, while others have long been in decay. The National Road remains their main streets.

From a 1912 road guide – the National Road is dirt, and “usually good” but only in the summer

The situation was not much improved during the first two decades of the 20th century. A road guide I’ve seen from 1916 described the National Road in Illinois as still mostly dirt and “bad in wet weather.” It urged the motorist to “make careful local inquiry regarding conditions.”

From a 1916 road guide – “fair to poor” and just avoid it altogether in some areas

The reason there were road guides at all during these years was because of the automobile. People wanted to drive places! But it wasn’t until the 1910s that states began to form highway networks, and until 1927 that the national highway system was established. And even after those networks existed, it took years of effort to improve these roads so they were all hard surfaced.

From a 1924 road guide – hard-surfaced “practically” all the way!

Starting in 1920, Illinois laid brick and poured concrete to create an all-weather National Road. They finished by 1923. In 1927, the road was named US 40 and made part of the national highway system.

That road, like roads everywhere, soon became more crowded as more people bought cars. And especially after World War II, cars became faster and more powerful every year. The old roads’ hills and curves just weren’t engineered to handle so many cars going so fast. So in the early 1950s Illinois determined to rebuild US 40 as a four-lane divided highway. They built straighter, flatter, and wider westbound lanes alongside the old brick and concrete road – much to drivers’ relief, I’m sure.

But by then I-70 was in the planning stages. Because it would parallel US 40, it no longer made sense to build US 40’s eastbound lanes. And so the old brick and concrete road was abandoned for miles and miles, and it remains today. It’s a treasure.

In several posts to come, I’ll share scenes from along the Illinois National Road, both this historic pavement and its towns, and some of the scenery all along the way.

I’ve driven the National Road from its beginning in Baltimore, MD to its end in Vandaila, IL. To read everything I’ve ever written about it, click here.

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Richmond in Wayne County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, September 3, 2019

1. Historic National Road Marker

side A

Inscription.

Historic National Road. The Road That Built the Nation. Side A , An Important Road , The National Road is a true American icon, conceived by George Washington, authorized by Thomas Jefferson, and traveled by Abraham Lincoln.

In 1806 construction of the National Road was approved by the US Congress to open the western interior of a young nation to commerce and settlement. It was America’s first federally funded interstate highway, extending from Cumberland, Maryland, to Wheeling on the Ohio River. The road was so important that Congress authorized its extension into Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois in 1824 to link the capitals of the new states. The road reached Indiana in 1827.

An Early Road of Opportunity , During its heyday in Indiana (1830-1850), travelers flooded the National Road. It provided a convenient route to markets both east and west. Blacksmith shops and taverns sprung up along the road to serve the diversity of travelers. Stagecoaches bringing letters, newspapers, and cash supported the booming economy and carried the correspondence of happy accomplishments, births, and deaths.

The trip was often unpleasant--- wagon axles deep in mud, clothes wet, and backs aching from the rough ride. Stagecoaches, carriages and wagons vied for space alondside foot travelers, noisy cattle, hogs, and geese.

As faster and more reliable transportation options became available with the expansion of the nation’s rail and canal networks in the 1850’s, road traffic decreased. Like many other roads, the National Road fell into a state of disrepair. Although it was no longer the great road west, the legacy of the road would not soon be forgotten.

Side B , The Auto Age , The automobile revived the National Road in the 1920s. As cars and trucks took to the road, the federal government established a nationwide network of paved, all-weather highways. The old National Road was one of the first routes designated under the new federal highway numbering system in 1926 , US Route 40, a transcontinental highway from Atlantic City, NJ, to San Francisco, CA. Once again, the road gave rise to new opportunities. Like the blacksmith shops and taverns of the past, gas stations, diners, and motels ushered in a new era of prosperity. Until the 1970s, with the completion of Interstate 70, US 40 was one of the country's primary east-west routes.

The Modern Road , The National Road has played a significant role in the development of the United States. To honor this distinction, in 2002 the US Secretary of Transportation designated the Historic National Road from Maryland to Illinois an All-American Road. Indiana is actively working to preserve its segment of the road, structures, and landscapes along this historic corridor. Today the road continues to beckon travelers like you as it has for more than 200 years. Welcome to Indiana!

New and Improved , Soon after the turn of the 20th century, Americans abandoned their horses, carts, and interurban rail cars for the independence afforded by the automobile. Old rutted roads like the National Road were paved, new services established, and the modern transportation era began.

Where Service Never Stops , The modern National Road, US Route 40, provided essential services for travelers around the clock.

National Road Landmark , Restored by Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana, the 1841 Huddleston Farmhouse in Cambridge City, a popular stopping place for supplies on the old road, continues to welcome visitors along the National Road.

The Modern Conestoga Wagon , The H&C Studebaker blacksmith shop became the Studebaker Manufacturing Company in 1868. Indiana-based Studebaker would eventually become the largest wagon manufacturer in the world. Studebaker introduced an electric car in 1902 and a gasoline powered car in 1904, becoming the only manufacturer to successfully make the transition from horse-drawn to gasoline-powered vehicles.

Side A
An Important Road
The National Road is a true American icon, conceived by George Washington, authorized by Thomas Jefferson, and traveled by Abraham Lincoln.

An Early Road of Opportunity
During its heyday in Indiana (1830-1850), travelers flooded the National Road. It provided a convenient route to markets both east and west. Blacksmith shops and taverns sprung up along the road to serve the diversity of travelers. Stagecoaches bringing letters, newspapers, and cash supported the booming economy and carried the correspondence of happy accomplishments, births, and deaths.

As faster and more reliable transportation options

Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, September 3, 2019

2. Historic National Road Marker

side B

became available with the expansion of the nation’s rail and canal networks in the 1850’s, road traffic decreased. Like many other roads, the National Road fell into a state of disrepair. Although it was no longer the great road west, the legacy of the road would not soon be forgotten.

Side B
The Auto Age
The automobile revived the National Road in the 1920s. As cars and trucks took to the road, the federal government established a nationwide network of paved, all-weather highways. The old National Road was one of the first routes designated under the new federal highway numbering system in 1926 — US Route 40, a transcontinental highway from Atlantic City, NJ, to San Francisco, CA. Once again, the road gave rise to new opportunities. Like the blacksmith shops and taverns of the past, gas stations, diners, and motels ushered in a new era of prosperity. Until the 1970s, with the completion of Interstate 70, US 40 was one of the country's primary east-west routes.

The Modern Road
The National Road has played a significant role in the development of the United States. To honor this distinction, in 2002 the US Secretary of Transportation designated the Historic National Road from Maryland to Illinois an All-American Road. Indiana is actively working to preserve its segment of the road, structures, and landscapes along this

Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, September 3, 2019

3. Historic National Road Marker

full view of marker, in front yard of Welcome Center

historic corridor. Today the road continues to beckon travelers like you as it has for more than 200 years. Welcome to Indiana!

New and Improved
Soon after the turn of the 20th century, Americans abandoned their horses, carts, and interurban rail cars for the independence afforded by the automobile. Old rutted roads like the National Road were paved, new services established, and the modern transportation era began.

Where Service Never Stops
The modern National Road, US Route 40, provided essential services for travelers around the clock.

National Road Landmark
Restored by Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana, the 1841 Huddleston Farmhouse in Cambridge City, a popular stopping place for supplies on the old road, continues to welcome visitors along the National Road.

The Modern Conestoga Wagon The H&C Studebaker blacksmith shop became the Studebaker Manufacturing Company in 1868. Indiana-based Studebaker would eventually become the largest wagon manufacturer in the world. Studebaker introduced an electric car in 1902 and a gasoline powered car in 1904, becoming the only manufacturer to successfully make the transition from horse-drawn to gasoline-powered vehicles.

Erected 2012 by Indiana National Road Association.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed

Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, September 3, 2019

4. Historic National Road Marker

marker as seen from Industrial Pkwy

in this topic list: Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the The Historic National Road series list.

Location. 39° 49.946′ N, 84° 49.55′ W. Marker is in Richmond, Indiana, in Wayne County. Marker is at the intersection of Old National Road (U.S. 40) and Industrial Parkway, on the left when traveling west on Old National Road. The marker is in front of the Old National Road Welcome Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5701 National Rd E, Richmond IN 47374, 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. New Paris (approx. 2.1 miles away in Ohio); New Paris Veterans Memorial (approx. 2.2 miles away in Ohio); Madonna of the Trail (approx. 2½ miles away); a different marker also named Historic National Road (approx. 2½ miles away); The First Toll Gate (approx. 2½ miles away); a different marker also named Madonna of the Trail (approx. 2½ miles away); a different marker also named New Paris (approx. 2.8 miles away in Ohio); Camp Wayne (approx. 3.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Richmond.

Additional keywords. Old National Road

Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, September 3, 2019

5. Historic National Road Marker

pictures on the marker

Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, September 3, 2019

6. Historic National Road Marker

artwork on marker

Credits. This page was last revised on September 11, 2019. It was originally submitted on September 10, 2019, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. This page has been viewed 127 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on September 10, 2019, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.