Mechanicsburg Gap (also known as Mill Creek Gap ) is a water gap through Mill Creek Mountain in Hampshire County in the U.S. state of West Virginia .
55-520: Mechanicsburg Gap allows for the passage of the Northwestern Turnpike ( U.S. Route 50 / West Virginia Route 28 ) and Mill Creek through Mill Creek Mountain. It takes its name from the community of Mechanicsburg at the gap's western entrance. Today, Mechanicsburg Gap has a number of interesting features within it. Near The Burg (an 18th-century home) lies the Romney Spring which flows from
110-407: A PVC pipe at the foot of the gap which is visited daily by its patrons along the side of U.S. Route 50. Mechanicsburg Gap is also home to the now closed limestone rock quarry which has cut a massive hole into the gap's northern wall. Adjacent to the quarry is the former Evelyn's Restaurant, which was long a popular steakhouse and truck stop . The site is now home to Good 'n Gooder, a store with
165-592: A general westward course to Parkersburg , West Virginia on the Ohio , is a historic highway which deserves more mention than it has ever received as a factor related to the American westward movement and to the problem of communication between East and West. It was the inevitable result of the call of the West and the need of a Virginia state road." "Perhaps its first suggestion was recorded by George Washington , who in 1758 had been
220-536: A variety of used items. [REDACTED] Media related to Mechanicsburg Gap at Wikimedia Commons This article is about a location in Hampshire County , West Virginia is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Northwestern Turnpike The Northwestern Turnpike is a historic road in West Virginia ( Virginia at the time the road was created), important for being historically one of
275-634: A way through Hampshire County via Mechanicsburg Gap in Mill Creek Mountain , and pushing on into Preston County , the engineers encountered insurmountable obstacles to the Kingwood route, causing the stock to languish." "The enterprise was saved by the remarkable act of 1831 which organized a road company, with the Governor as President and one of the Board of Directors, with power to borrow money ($ 125,000) on
330-668: Is designated as the National Freeway. Many of the National Road's original stone arch bridges also remain on former alignments, including: Another remaining National Road bridge is the Wheeling Suspension Bridge at Wheeling, West Virginia . Opened in 1849 to carry the road over the Ohio River , it was the largest suspension bridge in the world until 1851, and until 2019 was the oldest vehicular suspension bridge in
385-527: Is paved from Romney to Alaska from which point a hard-surfaced road extends to Cumberland where connection is made with the National Road ( U.S. Route 40 )." National Road The National Road (also known as the Cumberland Road ) was the first major improved highway in the United States built by the federal government . Built between 1811 and 1837, the 620-mile (1,000 km) road connected
440-668: Is sometimes referred to as the Washington National Pike; it is now paralleled by I-270 between the Capital Beltway (I-495) and Frederick. Nicknamed the "Main Street of America", the road's presence in towns on its route and effective access to surrounding towns attracted wealthy residents to build their houses along the road in towns such as in Richmond, Indiana , and Springfield, Ohio , creating Millionaires' Rows . In 1976,
495-796: The Alton Road), already existed. In 1912, the National Road was chosen to become part of the National Old Trails Road , which would extend further east to New York City and west to Los Angeles, California . Five Madonna of the Trail monuments, donated by the Daughters of the American Revolution , were erected along the Old Trails Road. In 1927, the National Road was designated as the eastern part of US 40, which still generally follows
550-521: The American Society of Civil Engineers designated the National Road as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark . There are several structures associated with the National Road that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places . Some are listed below. The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission has installed five historical markers noting the historic importance of
605-521: The American Society of Civil Engineers designated the National Road as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark . In 2002, the entire road, including extensions east to Baltimore and west to St. Louis, was designated the Historic National Road , an All-American Road . The Braddock Road had been opened by the Ohio Company in 1751 between Fort Cumberland , the limit of navigation on
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#1732872268442660-476: The Baltimore and Ohio Railway. The fare from Green Spring to Parkersburg (210 miles) was $ 10.00." "The road, establishing commercial and other relations, soon became a busy thoroughfare of travel and traffic which stimulated the creation of many inns and towns along the route - such as Aurora, Fellowsville, Evansville (1833), and West Union (1846). In many ways it influenced the material prosperity and social life of
715-739: The Monongahela River , at Brownsville, Pennsylvania , which was by then a major outfitting center and riverboat -building emporium. Many settlers boarded boats there to travel down the Ohio and up the Missouri, or elsewhere on the Mississippi watershed . By 1818, travelers could press on, still following Chief Nemacolin's trail across the ford, or taking a ferry to West Brownsville, moving through Washington County, Pennsylvania , and passing into Wheeling, Virginia (now West Virginia), 45 miles (72 km) away on
770-655: The Pennsylvania Turnpike (also designated as I-76 ) across the mountains between Breezewood and New Stanton , where I-70 turns west to rejoin the National Road's route (and US 40) near Washington, Pennsylvania . The more recently constructed I-68 parallels the old road from Hancock through Cumberland west to Keyser's Ridge, Maryland , where the National Road and US 40 turn northwest into Pennsylvania, but I-68 continues directly west to meet I-79 near Morgantown, West Virginia . The portion of I-68 in Maryland
825-664: The Potomac and Ohio Rivers and was a main transport path to the West for thousands of settlers. When improved in the 1830s, it became the second U.S. road surfaced with the macadam process pioneered by Scotsman John Loudon McAdam . Construction began heading west in 1811 at Cumberland, Maryland , on the Potomac River. After the Financial Panic of 1837 and the resulting economic depression, congressional funding ran dry and construction
880-658: The Russian campaign , and later professor of engineering in the United States Military Academy from 1816 to 1823. He was assisted by Charles B. Shaw." "The chosen route was through Hampshire County, West Virginia , Mineral County, West Virginia , Grant County, West Virginia , Garrett County, Maryland , Preston County, West Virginia , Taylor County, West Virginia , Harrison County, West Virginia , Doddridge County, West Virginia , Ritchie County, West Virginia , and Wood County, West Virginia . In Hampshire County it
935-492: The 'state road' authorized from Winchester via Romney to Morgantown before 1786, and extended westward in 1786 by a branch road from near Cheat to Clarksburg , from which the first road was marked to the mouth of the Little Kanawha River between 1788 and 1790." "The later turnpike was planned and constructed by Virginia partly as a result of the rival activities of New York , Pennsylvania, and Maryland to secure
990-494: The National Road stopped in 1839. Much of the road through Indiana and Illinois remained unfinished and was transferred to the states. Federal construction of the road stopped at Vandalia, Illinois , which at that time was the state's capital. Illinois officials decided not to continue construction without the federal funds because two state roads from Vandalia to the St. Louis area, today's US 40 and Illinois Route 140 (known then as
1045-462: The National Road was connected with other historic routes to California under the title, National Old Trails Road . Today, much of the alignment is followed by U.S. Route 40 (US 40), with various portions bearing the Alternate U.S. Route 40 (Alt. US 40) designation, or various state-road numbers (such as Maryland Route 144 for several sections between Baltimore and Cumberland). In 1976,
1100-406: The National Road's alignment with occasional bypasses, realignments, and newer bridges. The mostly parallel Interstate 70 (I-70) now provides a faster route for through travel without the many sharp curves, steep grades, and narrow bridges of US 40 and other segments of the National Road. Heading west from Hancock in western Maryland, I-70 takes a more northerly path to connect with and follow
1155-526: The National Road's eastern terminus at Cumberland and toward the Atlantic coast, a series of private toll roads and turnpikes were constructed, connecting the National Road (also known as the Old National Pike ) with Baltimore, then the third-largest city in the country, and a major maritime port on Chesapeake Bay . Completed in 1824, these feeder routes formed what is referred to as an eastern extension of
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#17328722684421210-514: The Northwestern at a point which became Fellowsville by 1848. It also doubtless influenced the legislature in 1837 to provide for a survey of Cheat from the turnpike crossing to the Pennsylvania line. On some parts of the course it furnished the incentive for the establishment of inns to meet the needs of those who desired to escape the heat of the seaboard by a summer sojourn amid the wild beauty of
1265-714: The Ohio River. Subsequent efforts pushed the road across the states of Ohio and Indiana and into the Illinois Territory . The western terminus of the National Road at its greatest extent was at the Kaskaskia River in Vandalia, Illinois , near the intersection of modern US 51 and US 40. Today, travelers driving east from Vandalia travel along modern US 40 through south-central Illinois. The National Road continued into Indiana along modern US 40, passing through
1320-545: The United States still in use, although it has since been closed to vehicular traffic due to repeated overweight vehicles ignoring the weight limits and damaging the bridge. A newer bridge now carries the realigned US 40 and I-70 across the river nearby. Three of the road's original toll houses are preserved: Additionally, several Old National Pike Milestones —some well-maintained, others deteriorating, and yet others represented by modern replacements—remain intact along
1375-530: The advantage in transportation facilities for the trade of the West; and was especially regarded as a rival of the National Road which was opened from Cumberland to Wheeling in 1818, and with which parts of Virginia obtained better connection in 1830 by a stage line established from Winchester to Cumberland. It was built across the Appalachian Divide with the hope of securing commercial superiority, and
1430-647: The champion of the Braddock road (not then supposed to lie in Pennsylvania ) and who in 1784 sought a route located wholly in Virginia. Returning from a visit to his western lands, after following McCulloch's Path (then the most important route across the rugged ridges between the valleys), he crossed the North Branch Potomac River on the future route of the greater Virginia highway which was partially realized in
1485-558: The cities of Terre Haute and Indianapolis. Within Indianapolis, the National Road used the original alignment of US 40 along West and East Washington Street (modern US 40 is now routed along I-465 ). East of Indianapolis, the road went through the city of Richmond before entering Ohio, where the road continued along modern US 40 and passed through the northern suburbs of Dayton, Springfield, and Columbus. West of Zanesville, Ohio , despite US 40's predominantly following
1540-511: The college town of Springfield, Ohio . In 1849, a bridge was completed to carry the National Road across the Ohio River at Wheeling. The Wheeling Suspension Bridge , designed by Charles Ellet Jr. , was at the time the world's longest bridge span at 1,010 feet (310 m) from tower to tower. Maintenance costs on the Cumberland Road were becoming more than Congress was willing to bear. In agreements with Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania,
1595-502: The credit of the State to construct a turnpike road of a minimum width of twelve feet, 'from Winchester to some point on the Ohio River to be situated by the principal engineer', and with the right to erect bridges or to regulate ferries already in existence and to establish toll-gates on each twenty-mile (32 km) section completed." "The chief engineer was Col. Claudius Crozet , a French officer of artillery under Napoleon Bonaparte in
1650-533: The federal National Road. On May 15, 1820, Congress authorized an extension of the road to St. Louis, on the Mississippi River, and on March 3, 1825, across the Mississippi and to Jefferson City, Missouri . Work on the extension between Wheeling and Zanesville, Ohio , used the pre-existing Zane's Trace of Ebenezer Zane , and was completed in 1833 to the new state capital of Columbus, Ohio , and in 1838 to
1705-457: The first section was awarded to Henry McKinley on May 8, 1811, and construction began later that year, with the road reaching Wheeling on August 1, 1818. For more than 100 years, a simple granite stone was the only marker of the road's beginning in Cumberland, Maryland. In June 2012, a monument and plaza were built in that town's Riverside Park, next to the historic original starting point. Beyond
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1760-757: The major roads crossing the Appalachians , financed by the Virginia Board of Public Works in the 1830s. In modern times, west of Winchester, Virginia , U.S. Route 50 follows the path of the Northwestern Turnpike into West Virginia, whose major Corridor D project follows the western section of the original Northwestern Turnpike. The following description of the Northwestern Turnpike is taken from Dr. J. M. Callahan's Semi-Centennial History of West Virginia , pages 106-9, published in 1913: "The old Northwestern Turnpike, extending from Winchester , Virginia on
1815-457: The mountains, whose streams were filled with trout and whose forest furnished a home for deer and other game." "Beyond the headwaters of the Potomac , it passed over the Backbone, opening the way to a remote and inaccessible region bordering on the land of Canaan, which was made famous a few years later by 'The Clerk of Oxenford' (David Hunter Strother) in 'The Blackwater Chronicle' and later by
1870-435: The numerous heavy cattle driven over it in the winter and early spring. It was also much injured by high waters, especially in 1852 and 1853." "Although it never became of national importance as did its more renowned national rival at the north, it was for a while the busy scene of much business of a national character and gave fair promise of serving well the purpose for which Virginia had planned it until its larger usefulness
1925-623: The original route, many segments of the original road can still be found. Between Old Washington and Morristown, the original roadbed has been overlaid by I-70 . The road then continued east across the Ohio River into Wheeling in West Virginia, the original western end of the National Road when it was first paved. After running 15 miles (24 km) in West Virginia, the National Road then entered Pennsylvania. The road cut across southwestern Pennsylvania, heading southeast for about 90 miles (140 km) before entering Maryland. East of Keyser's Ridge,
1980-568: The people of the region through which it passed. Following the act of 1831, which provided for satisfactory adjustment of land titles, it was an important incentive to immigration and settlement and development - especially along the region of southern Preston and in Ritchie. Its construction also stimulated the construction of intersecting roads, such as the Brandonville pike, starting from Somerfield, Pennsylvania, passing via Kingwood, and connecting with
2035-549: The present town of Gormania and entered the southwest corner of Maryland through which it passed for eight and three-fourths miles, crossing the Alleghenies and emerging into Preston east of the German settlement (later known as Aurora ). It passed across the picturesque Cheat Valley considerably south of Rowlesburg , and via Fellowsville , Evansville , Thornton , Grafton , Pruntytown , and Bridgeport to Clarksburg, thence over
2090-470: The road used modern Alt US 40 to the city of Cumberland (modern US 40 is now routed along I-68 ). Cumberland was the original eastern terminus of the road. In the mid-19th century, a turnpike extension to Baltimore was approved—along what is now Maryland Route 144 from Cumberland to Hancock, US 40 from Hancock to Hagerstown, Alternate US 40 from Hagerstown to Frederick, and Maryland Route 144 from Frederick to Baltimore. The approval process
2145-545: The road was completed through the wilds of Preston, considerably south of Kingwood, in 1832, and was opened westward to Clarksburg and Parkersburg by 1838. Its construction cost $ 400,000. It crossed the mountains by easy grades and the larger streams (in some sections all the streams) by good bridges. It was macadamized from Tygart Valley River to Parkersburg in 1848. About 1852, it was further improved by construction of new bridges across several streams at important crossings. In 1840, facilities for travel and news were increased on
2200-499: The road was to be reconstructed and resurfaced. The section that ran over Haystack Mountain , just west of Cumberland, was abandoned and a new road was built through the Cumberland Narrows . On April 1, 1835, the section from Wheeling to Cumberland was transferred to Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia (now West Virginia). The last congressional appropriation was made May 25, 1838, and in 1840, Congress voted against completing
2255-821: The route. In general, the road climbed westwards along the Amerindian trail known as Chief Nemacolin's Path , once followed and improved by a young George Washington, then also followed by the Braddock Expedition. Using the Cumberland Narrows , its first phase of construction crossed the Allegheny Mountains entered southwestern Pennsylvania, reaching the Allegheny Plateau in Somerset County, Pennsylvania . There, travelers could turn off to Pittsburgh or continue west through Uniontown and reach navigable water,
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2310-534: The same writer under the nom de plume 'Porte Crayon' in 'A Visit to the Virginian Canaan.'" "It might have been a road of greater importance if Virginia soon after its completion had not been induced to divert her interest from turnpikes to canals - influenced by the completion of a Pennsylvania system of transportation connecting with the Ohio at Pittsburgh . West of the Alleghenies, it was extensively damaged by
2365-405: The summit via the head of Ten Mile Creek to Salem , thence across Middle Island Creek at West Union and via Tollgate, Pennsboro , Ellenboro (earlier Shumley), the head of Goose Creek , and Murphytown to Parkersburg. Much of the route passed through a vast wilderness interspersed here and there by a few old settlements and towns." "No longer dependent on the larger towns for its success,
2420-496: The territory through which it passes." "While the Northwestern Turnpike does not cross Hardy County, it has affected the transportation to a large extent from the Moorefield and Petersburg regions to the north, and with the completion of West Virginia Route 28 to Junction will be the main outlet, both eastward and westward, for all the region from Moorefield southward, or until such time as old West Virginia Route 54 (now WV 28)
2475-500: The unfinished portion of the road, with the deciding vote being cast by Henry Clay . By that time, railroads were proving a better method of long-distance transportation, and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was being built west from Baltimore to Cumberland, mostly along the Potomac River, and then by a more direct route than the National Road across the Allegheny Plateau of West Virginia (then Virginia) to Wheeling. Construction of
2530-601: The upper Potomac River , and the French military station at Fort Duquesne at the forks of the Ohio River , (at the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers ), an important trading and military point where the city of Pittsburgh now stands. It received its name during the colonial-era French and Indian War of 1753–1763 (also known as the Seven Years' War in Europe), when it
2585-514: The wagon and foot paths of the Braddock Road for travel between the Potomac and Ohio Rivers, following roughly the same alignment until just east of Uniontown, Pennsylvania . From there, where the Braddock Road turned north towards Pittsburgh, the new National Road/Cumberland Road continued west to Wheeling, Virginia (now West Virginia ), also on the Ohio River. The contract for the construction of
2640-408: The western end of the road by the establishment of a daily line of stages, and a regular mail service, which made connection with the Ohio steamers at Parkersburg. By 1845, there was a line of fast tri-weekly stages at Romney to the Ohio at Parkersburg. It connected at Romney with stages from Winchester, from Moorefield, and from Green Spring at which connections were made with Baltimore by trains of
2695-492: Was a hotly debated subject because of the removal of the original macadam construction that made this road famous. The road's route between Baltimore and Cumberland continues to use the name National Pike or Baltimore National Pike and as Main Street in Ohio today, with various portions now signed as US 40, Alt. US 40 , or Maryland Route 144 . A spur between Frederick, Maryland , and Georgetown (Washington, D.C.) , now Maryland Route 355 , bears various local names, but
2750-539: Was constructed by British General Edward Braddock , who was accompanied by Colonel George Washington of the Virginia militia regiment in the ill-fated July 1755 Braddock expedition , an attempt to assault the French-held Fort Duquesne. Construction of the Cumberland Road (which later became part of the longer National Road) was authorized on March 29, 1806, by Congress . The new Cumberland Road would replace
2805-556: Was established via Capon Bridge , Hanging Rock , Pleasant Dale , and Augusta to Romney , west of which it crossed the South Branch Potomac River . Through Mineral it passed via Burlington , thence westward across Patterson Creek , and through Ridgeville on the divide to New Creek which it crossed at Rees' tannery. Then turning toward the southwest, it crossed the North Branch Potomac River southwest of
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#17328722684422860-408: Was finally paralleled by a railroad which diverted its travel and traffic, created rival towns, and brought pioneer prospectors and promoters who prepared the way for the later era of larger industrial development." "Although its utility was diminished by proximity to the railroad, it was still in moderate repair in the decade after the close of the war, and it has continued a constant local benefit to
2915-767: Was stopped at Vandalia, Illinois , the then-capital of Illinois , 63 miles (101 km) northeast of St. Louis across the Mississippi River . The road has also been referred to as the Cumberland Turnpike , the Cumberland–Brownsville Turnpike (or Road or Pike), the Cumberland Pike , the National Pike , and the National Turnpike . In the 20th century with the advent of the automobile,
2970-399: Was the main thoroughfare between East and West through northern Virginia." "The act in incorporation of 1827, authorizing subscriptions at Winchester, Romney, Moorefield , Beverly , Kingwood , Pruntytown , Clarksburg, and Parkersburg made the mistake of arbitrarily locating the route through important towns without proper consideration of the physical features of the country. After finding
3025-423: Was transferred to its horseless rival which, persistently overcoming obstacles and opposition, reached Cumberland by 1845, Grafton in 1852, and Parkersburg in 1857." "Supported by a sentiment that long scorned the possibility of competition and that later opposed any improved system of transportation which, by absorbing the slower traffic, might close the taverns and ruin the local market for grain and provisions, it
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