By Patrick F. Chase Author of Jonathan Knight – Pathfinder of American Roads In the 1930’s and 40’s over 37 murals were painted on the walls of Indiana post offices. The project was funded by the New Deal. As new post offices were being built there was a...
By Steven R. Barnett Marion County Historian, Indiana Historical Society/Indiana Historical Bureau Executive Director, Irvington Historical Society Today’s weary highway traveler has a choice of at least a couple or more lodgings near the off ramp. However, that was...
Gooding Tavern, circa 1900. Southwest corner of State Road 9 and US 40 (Historic National Road). George Knox's Barbershop was located here. After the war, George was looking for a place to settle down and call home. Despite growing up in the South, he found himself...
Family in front of Historic National Road home during the early 1900s. Sometimes we see something many times, but don’t really know or appreciate what we are looking at. With all of the modern improvements that surround and engulf us in daily life, the past seems so...
Old German Church, Cumberland, Indianapolis. Currently threatened with demolition. Historic Preservation. These two words together describe a very active and, in most cases, successful movement. A movement that includes many subfields; advocacy, real estate...
Sam Hoshour's store located in Cambridge City, circa 1880s. Cambridge City, Indiana was founded on the National Road in 1836, but in 1846, everyone was focused on the newest transportation system that had just arrived in town. This innovation was already widespread in...
If you’ve ever traveled the National Road from Greenfield to Indianapolis, perhaps you’ve noticed a sign or two marking the community of “Philadelphia.” Drive 9 minutes east of Cumberland or 6 minutes west of Greenfield and you’ll pass through Philadelphia. This small...
The National Road, known by most as US 40 or Washington St. in Indianapolis, is one of Indiana’s most historic transportation routes. The National Road was first commissioned by Thomas Jefferson’s administration in 1806 as the first federally funded interstate...
The National Road played an iconic role in the westward expansion of the United States. Starting from its origin in Cumberland, MD (Hence, it’s alternative name of the Cumberland Road.) and blasting toward the west coast, the road’s construction ended in Vandalia, IL...
