Early Trails and Roads

Before the arrival of White settlers in Ohio, Native American trails were well-established in the region. Today’s U.S. route 23 was once known as the Scioto Trail, a Shawnee tribe trail that stretched from present-day Portsmouth to Sandusky. These trails left a blueprint for later routes that White settlers used to enter the Ohio Country. One of the most significant early roads in Ohio was the National Road, which was the first federally-funded interstate highway. Construction of the National Road began in 1811 and by 1833 it had reached Columbus, Ohio. It eventually spanned across 6 states: Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Indiana, Illinois and Ohio.

In Columbus, other early roads included the Columbus and Sandusky Turnpike (1834) and the Columbus and Portsmouth Turnpike (1847). Private turnpikes such as these were owned by corporations that built and maintained roads through the collection of tolls from travelers. Stagecoaches used these routes to transport people, goods and mail. Stagecoach travel reached its highest point in the 1840s and 1850s, until the rise in popularity of railroad travel.

Historical Map of Ohio

A network of Native American trails, often following waterways, crossed Ohio and were later used as a guide for early roads established by White settlers. This map of Ohio by Don Leach depicts Indian trails, roads and towns in the state.

Conestoga Wagon on the National Road

The National Road reached Columbus in 1833 and was crucial to opening Ohio to settlement and trade. In this reconstructed photograph, two Black men travel along the road.

Courtesy of Ohio History Connection

Old Worthington Inn

The Old Worthington Inn originally operated partially as the private residence of Rensselaer W. Cowles and his family in 1831. The building was eventually transferred to William Bishop, who was the first to operate it as a stagecoach inn and hotel along Route 161/Dublin- Granville Road.

Indian Trails and Towns Ohio Map

William C. Mills published this map in 1914 in the book Archaeological Atlas of Ohio 1914. Mills led excavations of Adena Mound, Harness Mound, Temper Mound and others.

Restored Toll House in Roscoe Village

After 1938, the federal government no longer allocated funds to maintain the National Road. In order to keep it in service, states such as Ohio would collect tolls from travelers in toll houses. This restored toll house is at Roscoe Village in Coshocton, Ohio.