 TIMELINE
|
| 1752 |
Nemacolin, a Delaware Indian, and Thomas Cresap blaze
a trail for the Ohio Company from Wills Creek, present day Cumberland,
Maryland, to the Monongahela River. This trail is called Nemacolin's
Trail. |
| 1754 |
Lt. Col. George Washington builds a road along Nemacolin's
Trail during a campaign against the French. Washington is defeated
at the Battle of Fort Necessity. |
| 1755 |
General Braddock campaigns against the French at
Ft. Duquesne. During the campaign, Washington's earlier route is
improved prior to Braddock's defeat and death. Braddock is buried
in the middle of this path and the route is known as Braddock's
Road. |
| 1796 |
Ebenezer Zane is permitted to open a road from Wheeling,
Virginia, through Ohio to Limestone, Kentucky. |
| 1802 |
The Enabling Act provides for Ohio's admittance into
the Union, and a provision of the act provides a means for obtaining
money to build a road from the east to the western territories.
|
| 1806 |
President Thomas Jefferson signs the act establishing
the National Road. |
| 1811 |
First contract for the National Road is awarded,
and the first 10 miles of road built. |
| 1818 |
National Road is completed to Wheeling, Virginia.
Mail coach use of the road begins. |
| 1830’s |
The federal government conveys responsibility of
the National Road to the states through which the road runs. Deteriorated
portions of the road are repaired by the Federal government, and
tollgates and tollhouses are built by the states. |
| 1839 |
The National Road reaches Vandalia, Illinois, where
construction of the road stops. |
| 1852/1853 |
The Pennsylvania Railroad reaches Pittsburgh and
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad reaches Wheeling, foretelling the
decline of the National Road. |
| 1880 |
The safety bicycle is introduced, and the League
of American Wheelmen pushes for road reforms. |
| 1912 |
During the age of the automobile, the National Road
is made part of the National Old Trails Road. |
| 1926 |
The National Road becomes part of US 40 as a coast-to-coast
highway. |
| 1960’s |
Route 40 is bypassed by Interstate 70. |
