The National Road - Pennsylvania

The National Road - Pennsylvania - Claysville

The town of Claysville is like many along the National Road. Small and rural with US 40 serving as its main street. Numerous old homes that date to the 18th and 19th centuries. Small and unique businesses that celebrate the heritage of the National Road.

Downtown Claysville along US 40.

Claysville was founded by John Purviance. Purviance started a tavern in the general vicinity of the town around 1800. When he learned that the plans for the National Road had the road going near his tavern, he laid out the town. The town's name of Claysville in in honor of Henry Clay who is considered by many as the "Father of the National Road."

One of many historic homes within Claysville.

Claysville annually celebrates the National Road with their "Claysville Pike Days" held the third weekend of May. This festival is one of many festivals along the National Road during National Road Festival, a celebration of the National Road now entering its 45th year. The two day event features local entertainment, food, and craft vendors.

I visited Claysville on the 4th of July in 2010 and came across this 48 star flag.

Exiting Claysville to its west, there is an old alignment of the National Pike. It begins at the interchange with Interstate 70 and runs through the town of West Alexander before rejoining US 40 in West Virginia.

The old National Pike in Rural Washington County.

Site Navigation:

Sources & Links:

Claysville, PA History & Nostalgia ---Carol Mounts
History of Claysville, PA ---Ray's Place
Western Route 40 Business Association

Comments

US Route 62 and US Route 180 in the Guadalupe Mountains

US Route 62/US Route 180 between El Paso, Texas and Carlsbad, New Mexico passes through the Guadalupe Mountains. The Guadalupe Mountains comprise the highest peaks of Texas which are largely protected as part Guadalupe Mountains National Park. The automotive highway through the Guadalupe Mountains was constructed in the late 1920s as part of Texas State Road 54. US Route 62 was extended from Carlsbad through the Guadalupe Mountains to El Paso during 1932. US Route 62 was joined in the Guadalupe Mountains by US Route 180 in 1943. The Guadalupe Mountains comprise a portion of the 130 mile "No Services" zone on US Route 62/US Route 180 between El Paso-Carlsbad. Part 1; the history of US Route 62 and US Route 180 in the Guadalupe Mountains The Guadalupe Mountains lie within the states of Texas and New Mexico. The Guadalupe Mountains essentially is a southern extension of the larger Rocky Mountains. The Guadalupe Mountains is the highest range in Texas with the peak elevati

Paper Highways; unbuilt California State Route 100 in Santa Cruz

This edition of Paper Highways examines the unbuilt California State Route 100 in Santa Cruz. The History of Unbuilt California State Route 100 The route that became CA 100 was added to the State Inventory in 1959 as part of the Freeway & Expressway System as Legislative Route 287 . According to CAhighways.org the initial definition of LRN 287 had it begin at LRN 5 (CA 17) and was defined over the below alignment to LRN 56 (CA 1) through downtown Santa Cruz. - Ocean Street - 2nd Street - Chestnut Street For context the above alignment would required tearing down a large part of the densely populated Santa Cruz. A modern Google imagine immediately reveals how crazy an alignment following Ocean Street, 2nd Street, and Chestnut Street would have been. LRN 287 first appears on the 1960 Division of Highways State Map . In 1961 the definition of LRN 287 was generalized to; from LRN 5 via the beach area in Santa Cruz to LRN 56 west of the San Lorenzo River.

New Mexico State Road 7 (Carlsbad Caverns Highway)

New Mexico State Road 7 is approximately a seven-mile highway in the Guadalupe Mountains of Eddy County. New Mexico State Road 7 connects US Route 62/US Route 180 at Whites City to the visitor center of Carlsbad Caverns National Park via Walnut Canyon. The so-called Carlsbad Caverns Highway to the National Park visitor center complex was constructed following the designation of the namesake National Monument in 1923. The current iteration of New Mexico State Road 7 was designated by the New Mexico State Highway Commission during June 1929. A proposal once was once floated to connect New Mexico State Road 7 to a cavern drive which would have been blasted into Big Room. Part 1; the history of New Mexico State Road 7 What are now Carlsbad Caverns was explored in the Guadalupe Mountains of Eddy County by local Jim White during 1898. White explored the caverns via a homemade ladder and named several of the more notable rooms. The name "Carlsbad Caverns" was derived from the

Gribblenation

Search This Blog