ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Two hundred years ago, history was made in Belmont County.

On July 4, 1825, construction officially began work on the National Road in Ohio — right in downtown St. Clairsville, near the courthouse where life and commerce still thrive today.

To honor this milestone, the Belmont County Heritage Museum invites the public to “Milestones and Memories” — a commemorative open house – from 4-6 p.m. Thursday at the museum in downtown St. Clairsville. The event celebrates both the 200th anniversary of the National Road in Ohio and the 10th anniversary of the Belmont County Heritage Museum.

Dubbed “The Main Street of America,” the National Road was the first federally funded highway in U.S. history, connecting the East Coast to the expanding western frontier. It was more than a road — it was a bold promise of progress and unity. Stretching from Baltimore to Illinois, the National Road ran directly through Belmont County, where early pioneers and business owners helped build not just a transportation network, but a foundation for national growth.

The July 31 open house will feature:

∫ Remarks by U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus Jr. and Tom Barrett, ODOT’s Historic Bridge Program Manager and State Byways coordinator

∫ Ceremonial groundbreaking ceremony, including free museum tours and access to the National Road exhibit, living history presentations from regional reenactors portraying key historical figures:

Tom Thomas as Ebenezer Martin

Ann Rattine as the Great Western School Marm

Curtis Kyer as Colonel James Charlesworth

∫ A special display of historic firearms made in Belmont County

“The National Road wasn’t just a path — it was a lifeline that connected communities, commerce and culture,” said Cathryn Stanley, Ohio National Road Association president. “Even today, its legacy is visible in our bridges, our brick streets, and the stories we continue to tell.”

Visitors are encouraged to explore nearby historical sites such as the Great Western Schoolhouse and the preserved Pike Town of Morristown. The red bricks of U.S. 40 still peek through the pavement, echoing the road’s role in everything from 19th-century trade to World War I transport.

“History isn’t something we visit — it’s something we live,” ONRA board member John S. Marshall added. “As we celebrate this 200th anniversary, we invite everyone to travel the Historic National Road — not just as tourists, but as participants in a story that continues to shape Belmont County and beyond.”