National Road

National Road in Illinois Community Histories

The year 2006 marks the 200^th anniversary of the Federal Government authorizing the building of a “national road” into the wilderness west of the Appalachian Mountains. Presidents George Washington and Thomas Jefferson believed that a national road would unify the expanding United States. Jefferson signed the legislation on March 29, 1806. Actual construction on the road began in November 20, 1811 at Cumberland, Maryland on the Potomac River. Congress authorized an extension of the road to St. Louis, Missouri on May 15, 1820. Eventually the road would pass through Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, and terminate in Vandalia, Illinois in 1839 due to lack of federal funding. Congress considered the railroads to be more important.

John Loudon McAdam pioneered a system of laying broken stones in symmetrical, tight patterns and covering it with small crushed stones to fill in the gaps. It was considered the greatest advancement in road construction at the time. This technique became known as the “macadam roads.” By the time the Road reached Illinois, road builders were laying paving bricks in some areas and tree trunks across the roadway, filling the spaces with rocks and sand. It was sometimes referred to as a “corduroy” surface, which jolted many stagecoach riders and horse-drawn buggies along their journey.

The Road was a natural conduit for people, mail, and goods to and from the east coast. The building of the railroads brought about competition to the Road. The railroads won the competition due to lower shipping rates. Farmers and businessmen preferred to use the railroads and assorted waterways to ship goods. When the automobile became popular in the 1920s, the National Road experienced a rebirth. Some towns along the Road developed businesses like the Archer House in Marshall. It was built in 1840 and named after the founder of Marshall, Colonel William B. Archer. Abraham Lincoln, President Cleveland and Chief Justice Judge Scholfield were reported to have stayed at the Archer House. With the advent of the interstate highway system across the United States in the early 1970s, the use of the Road began to decline again. Many local businesses folded as a result.

Thus the National Road helped many towns along it to develop and influenced the culture along it as a result. It was the predecessor of the modern interstates highways and pioneered the construction techniques of modern highways. People along the National Road live in communities that played a role in the history of Illinois transportation

Altamont & St Elmo

Brownstown & Vandalia

Collinsville & East St Louis

Marshall & Martinsville

Montrose & Jewett

Mulberry & Greenville

Pocahontas & Highland

Casey & Greenup

St Jacob & Troy

Effingham & Teutopolis