The National Road.
Old National Road Mile Marker Image via Wikipedia
The National Road is one of the most interesting U.S. historical treasures. It’s history you can feel, touch, and use. To this day it’s constantly changing. With this in mind, it’s a difficult subject to be an expert on or even find a real expert. The roots of the road go all the way back to when Zane Grey created the original National Road using footpaths the Indians had made. After that, government was a loose term for what the U.S. had controlling the west. Roads went where the locals seen fit. Floods could wash them out and even property disputes could change their course. They were little more than dirt trails and much of the exact road has been retaken by nature, paved over, or changed hands to private owners. Today, there are remnants of the pre-World War 2 times that are still in use, the post World War 2 Route 40 is largely intact, and the modern Interstate 70 runs parallel to it. Not only are do these roads parallel themselves in the physical sense, but in the historical sense as well.
The easiest part of the National Road to enjoy is the post World War 2 road. Much of it is updated wide 4 lane road. The road is loaded with history and places to stop and enjoy. Going down this road is like being in a time machine that allows you to experience the past, present, and future all at the same time. You’ll see people walking, horses, bicycles, motorcycle, old cars, new cars, old and new retail stores selling things that are old and new, and even aircraft from the old and new periods are there with the Flight Museum in Dayton. The old cliche that the more things change, the more they stay the same is self-evident here. In a world of turmoil, it’s nice to see things from this perspective. One can easily see how things have worked themselves out in the past and hopefully will in the future.
My favorite mode of travel on The National Road is a motorcycle. The v-twin engine seems to conjure up the ghosts of the pasts and you’re in the open to fully experience the sounds, sights, and even the smells of everything on the road. If there is a reason to stop and explore something, there is usually plenty of shoulder to park off the road and check things out.
I’ve thought of trying to compile enough information for a dedicated website, but there are many that have been up for years that fail to give full information. A lack of interest by the general public doesn’t warrant a dedicated site either. There is simply to much history and much of it is not documented well. Instead I’ll try to add to the collection of information with my own posts and photos when I can.
