Moving Goods on the National Road

“Open a wide door, and make a smooth way for the produce of that Country to pass to our Markets.” George Washington, 1784

America’s founders looked west for the future success of the new country. The United States needed good roads ...

The National Road

The Road that Built the Nation

“. . . 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, ...

Roads To The West

The Santa Fe Trail

The Santa Fe Trail began in 1821 when William Becknell led a small group of men on a trading expedition from frontier Missouri to colonial Santa Fe. Mexico had recently declared its independence from Spain and abolished ...

The Underground Railroad

After northern states began abolishing slavery during the Revolutionary era, fugitives from throughout southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina started to escape by ship from the Norfolk waterfront. With luck and determination, many succeeded in enlisting the aid of black ...

The Three Notch’d Road

Also called Three Chopt Road, this colonial route ran from Richmond to the Shenandoah Valley. It likely took its name from three notches cut into trees to blaze the trail. A major east-west route across central Virginia from the 1730s, ...

The Road

Discovering Madison

"Having lost ourselves in the mountain road which leads thro' a wild woody tract of ground, and wandering for some time in Mr. Madison's domain, which seemed interminable, we at last reached his hospitable mansion."

- Margret Bayard Smith, 1828

The ...

The Underground Railroad

After northern states began abolishing slavery during the Revolutionary era, fugitives from throughout southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina started to escape by ship from the Norfolk waterfront. With luck and determination, many succeeded in enlisting the aid of black ...

On The Bloomington Road / The Clark Neighborhood

On the Bloomington Road

The Fort Clark Road, later known as the Bloomington or State Road, was an important artery for commerce between Danville and Urbana. The road was first approved in 1826 by the Illinois Assembly. It was the first ...

The Marquis Road

Lafayette reopened this road in June, 1781, when moving south to intervene between Cornwallis and military stores in Albemarle County. The road has been ever since known as "The Marquis Road."

Marker is at the intersection of The Marquis Road (Virginia ...

Coming of the Railroad

Near here took place the historic meeting of John C. Moomaw and C. M. Thomas that led to the termination of the Shenandoah Valley Railroad at Big Lick (now Roanoke), April, 1881. This was the beginning of the city of ...