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| Milestone of Zane's
Trace, on Route 22, Kinderhook, Pickaway County.
Photo by the Histopric American Building Survey.
Courtesy of the Library of Congress, HABS, OHIO,65-KINHO.V,1-1. |
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In 1796 and 1797, Colonel Ebenezer Zane
and his brothers blazed a trail into the Northwest Territory,
now Ohio. Starting in Wheeling (which he founded in
1770), Zane's trace was the first road cut into the
wilderness. It would be the shortest distance between
Wheeling and Maysville on the Ohio River. Zane repeatedly
petitioned Congress for permission to build the road,
and in his impatience, he started the project without
it. Finally, in 1796, Zane received the permission he
sought.
Zane made good use of the Native
American footpaths across eastern Ohio, using the
Mingo Trail in Belmont and Muskingum Counties. South
of Zanesville, Zane probably followed the Moxahala Trail.
In the first few years, the road was just wide enough
for riders on horseback, but not wide enough for wagons
or coaches. Many early pioneers used the Ohio and Muskingum
Rivers to transport their heavy goods since the road
was still impractical.
In 1800, the road was widened from Wheeling
to Zanesville. Later, other sections were widened. Still,
the road was very steep and rutted, making for a less
than idea roadway.
Some, but not all of the National Road
uses Zane's Trace as its path. Just west of Old Washington,
a section of the original trace diverges from the path
of the National Road. Likewise, the trace between New
Concord and Zanesville is south of the National Road.
Except for a short section at the Zanesville Airport,
Zane's Trace between New Condord and Zanesville can
be driven in an automobile. It is a very narrow, winding
road. In many places two vehicles can barely pass one
another. This will give you an idea of what the National
Road (and Route 40) were like prior to the era of roadbuilding
that began in the 1930's.
Zane's Trace today.
