Friday, March 29, 2013

March 29: The National Road


On this date in History .... 1806:
 
Congress authorizes a survey to begin constructing the Cumberland Road, which began in Cumberland Maryland and stretched west.
 
The Army Corp of Engineers did the survey and also did the construction which started in 1811. It took seven years to complete the road through the Appalachians to Wheeling, W. Virginia. 
 
Stagecoaches and other traffic filled the road and by 1850 the road, which had earned the name “The National Road”, had extended all the way west to Indianapolis. The road today is known as U.S. 40 and stretches to California. 
 
As a footnote to this story, you may recall my October 28th posting/blog about the Madonna of the Trail statues that were placed along The National Road.
 
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