The National Road: Ohio
Zanesville to Franklin County
US 40 as it travels from Zanesville to the Franklin County Line (just east of Columbus), goes through numerous small towns, changes from four lanes to two numerous times, and most importantly keeps its rural charm.  Between Zanesville and Gratiot there are four former alignments of the old road that can be found: just west of Zanesville, Mt. Sterling, Hopewell and Gratiot.  Most stretches are very short and can be easily recognized with names as "Old US 40", "Old National Road" or some combination of the two.
Zanesville: Just west of US 40's interchange with I-70 runs an old alignment.

Left Photo: Looking Eastbound on Old US 40 with the four lane US 40 at right.  (Photo taken by Mike Austing)

Right Photo: An abandoned ice cream stand sits between the old and the new highways.  (Photo taken by Mike Austing)

Mt. Sterling: Another old alignment goes through this small village.

Left Photo: Eastbound approaching Mt. Sterling.  (Photo taken by Mike Austing)

Right Photo: Old route 40 runs quietly towards Mt. Sterling.  (Photo taken by Mike Austing)

Hopewell: The old highway is known as Hopewell National Road

Left Photo: Hopewell National Road bears off US 40.  (Photo by Mike Austing)

Right Photo: Old US 40 can be seen near Hopewell Elementary.  (Photo by Mike Austing)

Gratiot: Old US 40 seems to be forgotten through this town.

Left Photo:  Old US 40 entering the town of Gratiot.  (Photo taken by Mike Austing)

Right Photo: A quiet old highway runs through rural farmland.  (Photo taken by Mike Austing).

Just west of Gratiot on the National Road is the Eagle's Nest Monument.  The monument, a large inscripted boulder sitting on a stone pedistal and may date as far back as 1914, reads, "Old National Road, built 1825, rebuilt 1914 through the efforts of James M. Cox, Governor of Ohio."  The engraving includes an early roadster and a covered wagon.  The location of the Eagle's Nest Monument is also the highest point of the National Road within Ohio.  (Photo Credit: Mike Kentner, June 2, 2007)
One of the small towns that Route 40 traverses through in this segment is Brownsville.  Small enough that if you'd blink your eyes you'd miss it, Brownsville captures the highway's best feature, the charm of the towns and the people the exist and live with it.  Located here is the Brownsville School.  The building was built in 1900 and has recently been transformed into a bed and breakfast.  The school now turned B&B has been renamed 'The National Trail Schoolhouse Inn.'


The National Trail Schoolhouse Inn, formerly Brownsville School, located in Brownsville.  (Mike Austing)

Alex Burr of southern Maine has traveled US 40 numerous times since the late 1940s.  He still recalls many of the towns that he has gone through over the years.  He also was kind enough to share a few photos taken on his journey through Licking County on US 40 in late December 1998.

  • A view of the highway west of Gratiot
  • US 40 West between Gratiot and Linnsville
  • US 40 West entering Brownsville
  • Mike Austing of southeast Ohio shares some great scenes of the road from Muskingum and Licking Counties.
  • Four-Lane US 40 leaving Zanesville
  • US 40 entering Brownsville
  • US 40 in the Spring in Brownsville
  • Another section of the old National Road can be found just outside of Linnville. (Photo at right - Mike Kentner, June 2, 2007)  Further down the highway from Brownsville at the corner of US 40 and OH 13 in Jacksontown is Clark's Dining Room which since the late 1910s has serviced travelers along the road with a fine meal.  Nearby is the Jack Town Pub, it appears that this building once served as a hotel at one time.

    The Jack Town Pub.  (Mike Austing)
    Off of Interstate 70 at Exit 122, there is an odd piece of both the Interstate and US 40 history. In 1959, US 40 was moved onto a new four lane freeway from near Brownsville (I-70 Exit 141) to Kirkersville (I-70 Exit 122).  This road would later become I-70. From 1962 to 1968, Interstate 70 would end here.  After I-70 was built on to Columbus, a small one mile piece of this freeway became detached from the Interstate.  When US 40 returned to the original two lane highway in 1970, this stub became even more un-needed.  In time, the old westbound roadway was removed.  However, you can still see the old right-of-way of this dead freeway, and a bridge overpass still carries a local road over the highway.  (Photo at right)  Currently, OH 158 is routed on the old US 40 and old I-70.
    Old I-70/US 40 near Kirkersville.
    (William Lawson)

    The National Road in Ohio is full of various road, historical, and Americana features.  If you would like to assist in this project with anything from corrections, to new ideas, stories or photos, please e-mail me at aprince27@gmail.com.



    Continuing on the Trail:
  • East into Zanesville to Cambridge
  • West into Franklin County and Columbus
  • National Pike Photo Essay Index

  • Site Navigation, Sources & Links:

  • The National Road @ roadfan.com ---Marc Fannin and Sandor Gulyas
  • US 40 @ Unofficial Ohio State Highways Web Site ---John Simpson
  • US 40 @ OHHighways.com --Jeff Kitsko
  • Route 40 Net ---Frank Brusca
  • Mike Austing
  • Alex Burr
  • Mike Kentner
  • Brenda and Larry Shrider

  • Page Created: May 18, 2002
    Last Updated: July 5, 2007

    © 2002-07 William Lawson