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Published Jul/Aug 2006 Left: A covered bridge along the route near Greenup, Ill. The National Road Association of Illinois photo Inset: The Historic National Road follows U.S. Route 40 from Maryland to Vandalia, Ill. Jack Olson photo |
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During the 200th anniversary of the National Road, explore charming towns, historic sites and lovely scenery along the route in Indiana and Illinois.
By Jack Olson |
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 ot a nice long weekend and wandering on your mind? There’s a little-known treasure cutting across the eastern heartland of the United States and it’s wide-open for enjoyment and historic reminiscence. Leave Interstate 70 and travel back in time on the Historic National Road in Indiana and Illinois.Celebrating its 200th annniversary this year, the Historic National Road preserves and commemorates the highway that adventurous travelers in the 1800s navigated as they headed west. Thomas Jefferson signed into law an act that created a road from the East Coast, over the Appalachians and eventually to the Mississippi River. T he nation’s first federally funded interstate highway, the National Road was developed as a way to unite the developed eastern part of the United States with its western frontier. At first it was a dirt path, but later it was reborn as U.S. Highway 40. It remained a major east-west artery until I-70 superseded it in the early 1970s. Today, it is one of only 27 All-American Roads in the National Scenic Byways program. Today, the Indiana and Illinois portion of the road, which begins in Maryland, can fill two or three days with a number of pleasant surprises. Passing through Indiana The Historic National Road can be driven all at once or in bits and pieces. This route begins at Richmond, Ind., near the Ohio state line. Richmond is the starting point for exploring Antique Alley in eastern Indiana, should you want to extend your stay and do some shopping. Get off I-70 at Exit 156A where you will see a sign for the Old National Road welcome center. Stop and pick up literature, including a good map of the route, or use an interactive computer and meet a helpful volunteer. Then begin heading west on U.S. Highway 40, which will comprise most of the journey. There are many more interesting sites than can be discussed here, but check the map for all the attractions. The first stop that shouldn’t be missed is Centerville, only six miles west of Richmond. This community was a thriving stop when the road was in its heyday during the 1800s. A unique feature of Centerville is the row houses with archways which line the main road. These were built in the 1820s and 1830s. They allowed carriage drivers to park their vehicles behind the row houses and then pull them out onto the busy road. The archways are such a distinctive feature that the town holds an annual Archway Days festival the fourth weekend in August to celebrate. This year, the festival will be Aug. 25–27. Centerville also sports several fine antique shops. Next we come to Cambridge City and the Huddleston Farmhouse located on U.S. Highway 40. Many travelers stopped here in the early 1800s for meals and shelter. The house has been beautifully restored by the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana and is now a heritage museum and headquarters for the Indiana National Road Association. Tours of the site are offered from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday–Saturday. Adult admission is $5. Continuing on U.S. Highway 40, we’ll drive west to Knightstown, Ind. This town is a jewel and deserves some exploration. Just north of the highway and the town square is the restored Trump’s Texaco Museum, 39 N. Washington St. The vintage Texaco sign, gas pumps and Nehi soda machine make this a worthy stop along the road. Go a few blocks north to see a stunning architectural gem, Knightstown Academy, 355 Washington St. Built in 1877, the soaring twin towers are standout features. Movie buffs will want to see the gym that’s next to the academy, which was the setting for the popular movie, “Hoosiers.” A 20-year celebration of the movie was held in June that included a 1950s sock hop. Volunteers are often on duty to show visitors around. If you liked this movie, it’s worth the detour. James Whitcomb Riley, dubbed “the Hoosier poet,” was born and lived in Greenfield, west of Knightstown off U.S. Highway 40 at Indiana Route 9. His birth home (250 West Main St.) offers tours from April through November, and visitors will see memorabilia of this writer. Greenfield also has a historic courthouse district with the dominant public building and enticing shops. Now at the central section of the Historic National Road in Indiana, we’ve come to Indianapolis, the state’s capital. This city is a destination unto itself. Among the landmarks to visit is the Irvington Historic District on the city’s east side, which is named for the 19th-century writer, Washington Irving. It is Indiana’s largest historic district along the National Road. To see an original section of the old road, travel west on U.S. Highway 40 to the intersection of U.S. Highway 231 near Greencastle. Just behind the old Walker Motel is the old road as it would have appeared to travelers 150 years ago. The trees lining the road and small bridge recall an earlier time. The road continues to Terre Haute, the Wabash River and Illinois. Wrapping it up in Illinois The Land of Lincoln has excellent signs for the National Road, and there are many jaunts off U.S. Highway 40 through small communities. Don’t miss Marshall with its bandstand near the courthouse and shops to explore. There are two stone arch bridges nearby and a log cabin welcome center. Another jewel of a town is Greenup, known as “the Village of Porches,” with its downtown lined by 19th-century buildings that feature second-story porches. The entire downtown is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and beckons travelers to stop. To the west of Greenup on the National Road lies a sturdy reproduction of a Jackson truss covered bridge. Legend says that Abraham Lincoln and his father helped build the original bridge. Spanning the Embarras (pronounced “Ambraw”) River, the bridge nestles in a lovely setting, with a trail following the river’s path. For some time, Vandalia was the end of the National Road. The city once was the state capital and the Old State House is Illinois’ oldest surviving Capitol building. Lincoln was a state legislator here. West of town, the National Road cuts off onto Illinois Route 140. This is some of the prettiest farm country on the entire route. Near the western terminus of the National Road, the traveler finds a real treasure. Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site (One Gateway Drive in Collinsville) is a dedicated United Nations World Heritage Site. People of the Mississippian culture, which at one time numbered approximately 20,000 individuals, lived in this fertile river land. This civilization built large and numerous mounds that are thought to have sacred meaning. A wonderful museum is in the interpretive center, which provides a thorough introduction to the mound builders. Visitors then can explore the mounds, including Monk’s Mound, the largest of them all. This tour along the Historic National Road in Indiana and Illinois is a leisurely way to look back into history. It is a welcome change off the interstate. Jack Olson is a contributor from Denver, Colo. |
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The Historic National Road will resemble the route of the past this fall when scores of classic cars hit the road for a two-week tour along the entire six-state route to celebrate the road’s 200th anniversary. |
 A vintage car touring the National Road. Indiana National Road Association photo |
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