‘National Road’ exhibit at museum

the vindicator

YOUNGSTOWN — After appearing at venues along U.S. Route 40, the Ohio Historical Society’s exhibition “The National Road: Helping Build America” is now at the Youngstown Historical Center of Industry & Labor (the steel museum), 151 W. Wood St., where it will remain on display until June 28.

The exhibition tells the story of the history and evolution of U.S. Route 40, also known as the National Road, from the perspective of a traveler. It was created in 2007 to celebrate the bicentennial of the 1806 authorization by Congress of the National Road, America’s first federally funded interstate highway.

The Ohio portion of the National Road covers more than 225 miles in 10 counties. It enters the state by crossing the Ohio River from Wheeling, W.Va., and goes directly across the bottom half of the state, cutting through Columbus before entering Indiana.

Using material from the Ohio Historical Society publication “A Traveler’s Guide to the Historic National Road in Ohio: The Road That Helped Build America,” the 10-panel illustrated exhibit explains why the National Road was built and how it relates to the larger story of westward expansion and the development of the United States during the 19th and early-20th centuries. It offers historical notes about the road from the stagecoach era through the automobile era and the role that it now plays as a National Scenic Byway.

The exhibit includes text, maps and photos and is accompanied by free booklets and free postcards (while they last).

After the exhibition closes at the Youngstown Historical Center, it will move to Campus Martius in Marietta starting June 30.

The Youngstown Historical Center is located across from St. Columba Cathedral. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $7 ($6 for seniors; $3 for students; free for children under 5 and YSU students and faculty). For more information, call the center at (330) 743-5934.