Historic National Road - Maryland
The Historic National Road stands for adventure, freedom and exploration.
This byway was the country’s first federally financed road building project and it served as the gateway to the West for early settlers. It is the road that built the nation.
Today, as you travel west from Baltimore’s Inner Harbour into the mighty Allegheny Mountains in Western Maryland; you can experience more than 300 years of American culture, including inns, tollhouses, taverns, theatres, parks, and shops along the byway.
This video takes you on a journey along one of the great American road trips through some of the most exquisite scenery in the land.
You will see historic settlements such as Frederick and Ellicott City, and also the beautiful Appalachian Mountains.
There is also a reminder of the American Civil War, a conflict that began 150 years ago this year and claimed more than half a million lives. At Antietam you can visit the site of the single most bloody one day battle in American history.
In twelve hours, over 23, 000 soldiers were killed or wounded - the day the Civil War stopped being civil.
Having little of even no knowledge of the American Civil War need not be a problem. It’s really easy to connect with the past because of the landscape which hasn’t changed much in the last couple of centuries.
Also, the pride the people have in the history and beauty of the area explored by the Historic National Road is infectious.