Leave the highway behindTake the scenic route
From panoramas of the Allegheny Mountains to the epitome of organic architecture, from 18th-century taverns to luxury resorts, the Historic National Road offers the curious traveler an abundance of ways to rediscover America and explore our nation’s heritage from a new perspective. The history of the corridor is a story of the growth and development of a nation and its expansion westward.
Travel the National Road and discover the Road That Built America.
The National Road Heritage Corridor tells the story of the 90 miles of the Road that cut across the southwest corner of Pennsylvania, home to some of the most important, course-changing events of early America’s history and a timeline of many of our country’s social, industrial and cultural revolutions. Though earlier paths such as Nemacolin’s Trail and Braddock’s Road were significant overland routes, the National Road was the nation’s first federally-funded interstate highway, built with the vision of unifying a growing country.
Stretching over 600 Miles, The National Road takes you on a journey.
Beginning in Cumberland, Maryland and crossing six states, the Historic National Road stretches 600 miles westward past historic landmarks, mountain vistas, industrial towns, rich farmland, and pastures, to reach the Mississippi River and the Eads Bridge in East St. Louis, Illinois.
The history of the corridor is a story of the growth and development of a nation and its expansion westward.
The history of the corridor is a story of the growth and development of a nation and its expansion westward. Our National Scenic Byway All-American Road is a peaceful two lane highway through southwestern Pennsylvania, and through some of the most historically significant locations in our nation—locations with a story to tell and a lesson to be learned.
Today, the National Road Heritage Corridor hearkens back to the memories of our past and is a stunning gateway to the future.
The road is rich with outdoor recreation opportunities that attract adventure-seekers looking to paddle our rivers, pedal our trails, and hike our mountains. For those who enjoy the finer things in life, the road is home to Nemacolin Resort, a five-diamond resort destination featuring the finest accommodations, cuisine, and luxury. The story of the National Road Heritage Corridor is one that is constantly evolving and expanding. New businesses and attractions continue to open along the corridor telling a new story and creating a new journey through the hills and towns of southwestern Pennsylvania.
Facebook Posts
Washington Was Here – In 1784 George Washington returned to Great Meadows, the site of Fort Necessity. This time, not as a young officer, but as a landowner. He inspected 234 acres he had acquired, envisioning a tavern and rest stop for travelers heading west. #washingtonwashere #georgewashington #NationalRoadPA #fortnecissity #pahistory #greatmeadows
Washington Was Here – In late May 1754, As George Washington marched west, he passed through what’s now Brownsville, PA—then known as Redstone Old Fort. A key crossing on Nemacolin’s Trail, it offered a gateway into the Ohio Country. Though he visited before the construction of the fort, the path he took laid the groundwork for the National Road to follow. 📷: Redstone Old Fort, Brownsville P.A. Facebook
#WashingtonWasHere #GeorgeWashington #NationalRoadPa #BrownsvillePA #PaHistory
Washington Was Here – On October 18, 1770, George Washington visited his friend Colonel William Crawford at Stewart’s Crossings, near present-day Connellsville, PA—just 12 miles off the National Road. Together, they scouted and surveyed frontier lands, laying groundwork for westward expansion. 📷: Connellsville Historical Society
#WashingtonWasHere #PaHistory #NationalRoadPA #ConnellsvillePA #WilliamCrawford #GeorgeWashington