National Road

Also known as: Peacock Road, Center Township Road 650
Center Township Rd. 650, Cambridge, Ohio

The National Road, built in the 1st part of the 1800s, runs between Cumberland MD and Vandalia IL

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Peacock Road

Peacock Road was paved with bricks in 1918, the last section of the National Road to be paved.

Photo taken by Jim Allen in July 2008

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Coordinates:
+40.02684, -81.50220
40°01'37" N, 81°30'08" W

Quadrangle map:
Cambridge

Description

Peacock Road is a ľ mi section of the National Road, which runs from Cumberland MD to Vandalia IL. The National Road was the first federally funded interstate highway in America. Congress approved funds for the road in 1806 and construction started at Cumberland in 1811. It was completed to Vandalia in the early 1840s. In the 1920s the road became US-40.

There are many historic structures along the road. Among them are 3 tollhouses: LaVale, Petersburg, & Searight, all octagon buildings with 2 wings and all listed on the NRHP. The road also has 5 remaining stone arch “S” bridges, 4 in Ohio and one in Pennsylvania, all listed on the NRHP.

National Register information

Status: Posted to the National Register of Historic Places on August 23, 1985
Reference number: 85001842
Areas of significance: Engineering; Transportation; Politics/Government
Level of significance: State
Evaluation criteria: A - Event; C - Design/Construction
Property type: Structure
Historic function: Road-related
Current function: Road-related
Period of significance: 1900-1924
Significant year: 1918

National Road

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