Two hundred years ago this month, right here in Belmont County, history was made.

On July 4, 1825, construction officially began on the National Road in Ohio. The groundbreaking took place in St. Clairsville — near the Courthouse — where people still walk, shop and celebrate our small-town charm today. While the world has changed dramatically over the past two centuries, the legacy of that bold vision still shapes who we are.

The National Road wasn’t just a path–it was a promise. Commissioned by Congress in 1806 and often called “The Main Street of America,” it was the first federally funded highway in the United States. It opened the American frontier, connected East to West, and united a growing nation. By the 1830s, that road stretched from Baltimore to Illinois — and it ran straight through Belmont County, where pioneers, builders, and business owners helped to shape the road and the country it connected. From Zane’s Trace, the rough-cut trail blazed by Ebenezer Zane in the 1790s, to the elegant brickwork of the Blaine Hill “S” Bridge, Belmont County has always played a starring role in America’s transportation story.

Today, you can still follow the old route — now known as U.S. Route 40 — and uncover the stories embedded in every mile marker, bridge, and roadside diner. You can walk across Ohio’s oldest standing bridge in Blaine, tour the Belmont County Heritage Museum in St. Clairsville, or visit Morristown, a Pike Town that still echoes with the rhythm of 19th-century commerce. Along the way, you’ll see red bricks peeking through the pavement, laid over a hundred years ago to support World War I transport. These aren’t just artifacts — they’re reminders of the innovation, determination, and community that built this region.

And Belmont County continues to build. Just last week, we broke ground again — this time at the Black Horse Inn in Morristown, one of the last remaining inns along the original National Road. The restoration of this landmark and the relocation of the Underground Railroad Museum into its walls is more than a preservation project. It’s a continuation of the story — our story. One of progress rooted in heritage.

As we reflect on this 200th anniversary, I invite you to rediscover the Historic National Road — not just as a line on the map, but as a living thread that ties past to present. Plan a weekend drive, visit a historic site, and support a local shop or restaurant along the route. Every mile traveled is a tribute to those who came before us and a step forward for Belmont County’s future.

To mark this momentous milestone, I invite you to join us on Wednesday, July 31, from 4-6 p.m. at the Belmont County Heritage Museum in St. Clairsville for an open house celebrating the 200th anniversary of the National Road in Ohio and the 10th anniversary of the Heritage Museum. Enjoy free tours of the museum, explore the National Road exhibit, experience living history and speaker presentations, and take a step back in time to the very place where Ohio’s stretch of the road began.

History isn’t something we visit. It’s something we live every day in the places we preserve, the stories we tell, and the communities we nurture. So, the next time you travel Route 40 — whether you’re headed to a festival, a farmers market, or just taking the scenic route home — take a moment to look around. Because here in Belmont County, you’re not just driving through history. You’re driving on it.

For more ways to explore our historic landmarks and upcoming events in Belmont County, go to our website at visitbelmontcounty.com. Here’s to the next 200 years of discovery, connection, and pride in friendly, beautiful Belmont County!

Each month this space will be devoted to a column written by Jackee Pugh, executive director of the Belmont County Tourism Council. She will provide information about the tourism office, local attractions, upcoming events, and other local finds in Belmont County. She will share information about the travel and tourism industry and how it impacts our local economy.