The Cumberland Road: America's First Federal Highway Westward

The Cumberland Road (also known as the National Road) was authorized by the Cumberland Road Act of 1806. It became the principal transportation route westward from Cumberland, Maryland, into the Northwest Territory (modern-day Ohio, Indiana, Illinois). Built under the direction of the U.S. Army during the administrations of John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison, it provided a secure, reliable passage for settlers, reducing risks from Native American resistance. The road lowered shipping costs, stimulated economic development, and facilitated trade and communication among expanding western communities.