The U.S. Department of Transportation named the Historic National Road, America’s first federally funded highway, an “All-American Road.”

Officials in the six states through which the Historic National Road passes – Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois – coordinated to apply for the designation. The application was submitted after several years of work with byway stakeholders – those citizens who live or conduct business along the road -- to research the route’s historic value, identify strategies for historic preservation and plan for increased tourism.

Before the federal government awarded the All-American Road designation, it had to be satisfied that the road’s scenery, culture and history are nationally and internationally significant. In short, the road must provide visitors with a unique driving experience and be worthy of consideration as a destination unto itself.

The road’s historic significance dates to George Washington, who envisioned a route for westward expansion in his early career as a surveyor and soldier. It was in 1806, during Thomas Jefferson’s presidency, that the fledgling United States Congress made the controversial decision to provide federal funding for the road’s construction so that settlers could move west.

Now that the Historic National Road has earned All-American Road status, it will have a higher priority when seeking federal funds through the Federal Highway Administration. In Maryland, work has already begun to develop a web site trip planner, construct wayside pull-offs, and install interpretive exhibits at the waysides and at state-operated Welcome Centers.
Maryland, which is home to 170 miles of the route, already promotes the Historic National Road as one of its many heritage tourism opportunities. Some of the many Maryland sites visitors can experience along the road include:

Baltimore’s Inner Harbor (at the road’s eastern terminus), internationally known as a prime example of urban renaissance.

Frederick, hometown of “Star-Spangled Banner” writer Francis Scott Key.

South Mountain, where the country’s first official monument to George Washington still stands. This was also the site of a fierce Civil War battle.

Cumberland, where the C&O Canal, Historic National Road and B & O Railroad combined to develop into Maryland’s transportation capital.

LaVale, where the state’s only remaining tollhouse continues to welcome travelers.

Grantsville, home of the 1813 Cassleman River stone arch bridge, once the longest span of its kind in the country.

Along the way, visitors can hike, bike or picnic in state parks and forests. They can also stop at countless museums, attractions, restaurants and lodging sites, some of which existed in the road’s earliest days.

Maryland already highlights its portion of the Historic National Road in an itinerary published in its state travel guide, Destination Maryland, and on its tourism web site, www.mdisfun.org, in the Maryland Trip Ideas section.

More detailed information is available in the state’s Scenic Byways guidebook and map. The guidebook, map and Destination Maryland can be ordered by calling 1-877-MD-BYWAY (1-877-632-9929).