The old National Road and its western descendants: taverns, tollhouses, mountain crossings, and main streets built before the interstates.<\/p>\n
Why take this road?<\/h2>\n
U.S. 40 rewards travelers who want to see how the country moved before limited-access highways. In the East it overlaps the historic National Road; farther west it crosses plains, Rockies, desert, and old resort corridors.<\/p>\n
Signature chapters of the journey<\/h2>\n
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National Road landscapes in Maryland and Pennsylvania<\/li>\n
Wheeling\u2019s river and bridge history<\/li>\n
Ohio and Indiana main streets and old road architecture<\/li>\n
Illinois and Missouri river crossings<\/li>\n
Kansas plains and Colorado mountain approaches<\/li>\n
Stone bridges, mile markers, taverns, tollhouses, diners, motor courts, and bypassed business districts show the road evolving from wagon route to automobile highway.<\/p>\n