Historic National Road - Pennsylvania
Historic National Road - Pennsylvania Tour

Departure: Old Petersburg Toll House, Pennsylvania
Destination: S Bridge, Pennsylvania
Time to allow: 1 day

Travel the Pennsylvania section of the Historic National Road and discover some of the region’s compelling history. Your tour will take you through sights that show the development of transportation along the Historic National Road, over historic bridges, and through battlefields from the French and Indian War.

Day 1

  • Start: Old Petersburg Toll House

    Start your tour at the Old Petersburg Toll House in Addison. The Old Petersburg Toll House is one of six original toll houses on Historic National Road and one of the two remaining toll houses you will see on the trip.

  • Stop 1: Fort Necessity National Battlefield

    From previous stop: 19 minutes / 15 mi (24.0 km)
    Directions:

    Head north on Toll House Road. Turn left onto U.S. 40. Turn left into the Fort Necessity National Battlefield.
    Suggested time at this stop: 30 minutes

    Visitors can see the site where George Washington led his forces in one of the most famous battles of the French and Indian War. Learn more about the battle as well as the Historic National Road at the Fort Necessity/ National Road Education and Interpretive Center.

  • Stop 2: Braddock’s Grave

    From previous stop: 7 minutes / 4.2 mi (6.7 km)
    Directions:

    Take a left on to U.S. 40 and drive approximately one mile. The NPS site will be on your left.
    Suggested time at this stop: 15 minutes

    View the grave of British Major General Edward Braddock, leader of an ill-fated expedition to the forks of the Ohio River to try to capture French-held Fort Duquesne during the French and Indian War.

  • Stop 3: Coal and Coke Heritage Center

    From previous stop: 23 minutes / 17.8 mi (28.5 km)
    Directions:

    Turn right onto U.S. 40 west from Braddock’s Grave and continue on U.S. 40. U.S. 40 bypass becomes U.S. 119 when U.S. 40 exits at Main Street in Uniontown. Follow Route 119 and turn left into the PENN State Eberly Campus.
    Suggested time at this stop: 30 minutes

    Coal played an integral role in the development of the Connellsville Coke Region. At the heritage center, learn about the development of coke, a refined type of coal used to smelt iron.

  • Stop 4: Searight Toll House

    From previous stop: 11 minutes / 9.6 mi (15.4 km)
    Directions:

    Head southeast on Penn State Campus and turn right onto U.S. 119. Turn right onto U.S. 40.
    Suggested time at this stop: 30 minutes

    Named for tavern owner William Searight, the toll house is one of six toll houses along Historic National Road and the second on our trip. Thousands of travelers paid tolls here while journeying along the road.

  • Stop 5: Brownsville

    From previous stop: 13 minutes / 7.6 mi (12.2 km)
    Directions:

    Turn left onto U.S. 40 and continue west. Turn left on Market St where you enter Brownsville’s North Side Historic District.
    Suggested time at this stop: 1 hour

    In Brownsville, you can discover more of the byway’s history. You can visit Nemacolin Castle, the Flatiron Building Heritage Center or several historic churches dating back to 1845. Visit your choice of two bridges built in the 1830s – the Flatiron Bridge or the Dunlap Creek Bridge.

  • Stop 6: Pennsylvania Trolley Museum

    From previous stop: 45 minutes / 27.5 mi (44.0 km)
    Directions:

    Return to W U .S. 40 and continue to the junction of N U.S. 79. Take N U.S. 79 which joins E U.S. 70. Stay on N U.S. 79 and take the Meadowlands exit, Exit 40. Turn left at the end of the ramp. Head north on Pike Street. Turn left onto Country Club Rd. Turn right onto North Main Street and bear left at the next intersection. Travel .5 miles on Museum Road and Turn left where you enter the parking lot.
    Suggested time at this stop: 1 hour 30 minutes

    Follow the development of the Historic National Road at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum. At the museum, guests can take a tour on a trolley and see nearly 50 preserved trolleys in addition to photographs and video clips.

  • End: S Bridge

    From previous stop: 19 minutes / 9.3 mi (14.9 km)
    Directions:

    Head northwest on Museum Road. Turn left onto Main St. Continue straight onto Oak Grove Road. Turn left onto Henderson Ave/ PA 18. Turn left onto Jefferson Ave. Turn right onto Chestnut St/ U.S. 40. Turn right onto S. Bridge Rd/ PA 221.

    Visit the S Bridge in Buffalo Township and see one of the engineering feats of the National Road. Walk across the bridge, built in the early 19th century, and marvel at its architecture.

Totals for Day 1

Total Distance Traveled: 91 miles / 145.6 km
Total Travel Time: 2 hours 17 minutes
Total Stopping Time: 4 hours 15 minutes