Traveling by car through Baltimore, Maryland on the scenic byways is a true sight to behold with antique rows, early morning farmers’ markets, wineries, blacksmith shops, wagon yards, and a host of historic sites and attractions.
The Historic National Road
Hundreds of years ago the easiest ways for new settlers to cross the Appalachian Mountains going west were on the dirt and cobblestone-covered National Road. New settlers drove horse-drawn Conestoga wagons that carried building materials and supplies. Families rode stagecoaches and carriages that stopped frequently along the way to take advantage of the friendly towns on their way to the west.
The National Road was America’s first federally funded highway. The National Road project took four decades of hard labor to complete. The road ran from Baltimore all the way through to Vandalia, Illinois. It began in 1806 to open trade and communication with the growing frontier in the Ohio River Valley.
You can travel Maryland’s portion of the road from Baltimore to Western Maryland. Stop to enjoy the inns, taverns and shops that have survived over time. The Historic National Road passes through three Maryland Heritage Areas which are: