Back to Photo Album

Six States Celebrate the Historic National Road

May 8, 2003

On June 2, 2002, Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta declared the Historic National Road an All-American Road National Scenic Byway. The Historic National Road became one of 22 byways across the nation to achieve this highest designation a scenic byway can attain through the National Scenic Byways program. On Thursday, May 8, 2003 all six states through which the Historic National Road passes (Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois) coordinated a simultaneous celebration of this historic road by cutting a ribbon at 11:00 Eastern Daylight time.

Ohio’s event mirrored those in the other six states by having speeches given by important contacts along the byway to recognize the importance of the Road. Shown here at Ohio’s ceremony, held at the Clark County Heritage Center in Springfield, is Glenn Harper of the Ohio Historic Preservation Office who was instrumental in the completion of the extensive application process that culminated in the Road’s designation. On the right is the Ohio National Road Association Board President Molly Mattin who assisted in the ribbon-cutting that followed.

Ohio’s new Historic National Road sign was debuted with an unveiling at the ceremony. Shown alongside the sign and doing the honors were Pennsylvania House Museum Co-Chairpersons Betty Layton and Molly Hays. Seen smiling proudly behind Mrs. Hays is Thea Walsh, the Ohio National Road Association’s Byway Coordinator.

Local children were in attendance and these two apparently drove their own vehicle to the event! Seen in the center back of the photo is Ohio Scenic Byway Program Manager Paul Staley.