Historic National Road - Indiana
a day / 144 miles / 4 hours 47 minutes
Travelers along Indiana's National Historic Road will see landscapes marked by the heyday of the 1840s to 1940s. Historic villages with traditional Main Streets give way to fields and pastures. From Federal-style 'Pike Towns' and Victorian streetcar neighborhoods to drive-ins and stainless steel diners, follow the migration of the nation.
Day 1
9:00 - 3.6 miles / 7 minutes - 9:07
Wayne County Historical Museum
The Julia Meek Gaar collection features curiosities from around the world including a 3,000-year-old Egyptian mummy. Check out the early collections of Richmond-made cars and the 1929 Davis airplane. There's also National Road pioneer-life exhibits including a general store, an operational 1880s' blacksmith shop and one of the first log homes built in Richmond, and much, much, more! Special celebrations include Pioneer Days and Christmas at the Museum.
9:07 - 0 miles / 0 - 9:07
In 1806, the city of Richmond was settled by a group of Quakers. Now, as the Wayne County seat, Richmond is a bustling city on the National Road in Indiana. Travelers will find everything they need in Richmond and the surrounding areas including historical spots and the best antique shopping in the nation.
The Richmond area enjoys an abundance of artistic and cultural activity. The Symphony and Chorus, Opera, Civic Theatre, and Bluegrass concerts offer excitement and entertainment throughout the year.
The Richmond Art Museum exhibits original works by regional, national, and internationally acclaimed artists, including two galleries featuring permanent collections specializing in Indiana art.
In September, Richmond hosts a two-day Jazz Fest. Heralded as a weekend of traditional jazz and blues, Jazz Fest celebrates Richmond's heritage as the center of the early jazz recording industry. Other fun activities during this event include a pancake breakfast, the Crosley Car Show, and an art show featuring artwork from local artists and craftsmen.
For a calendar of seasonal events, look to the The Indiana National Road website www.visitrichmond.org.9:07 - 0.2 miles / - 9:07
Founded in 1836 and located in the Historic National Road's Antique Alley, Cambridge City reflects architectural styles of the mid 1800s.
9:07 - 5.3 miles / 10 minutes - 9:18
Centerville was one of the first pike towns on the National Road. Now, the town is characterized by its historic brick houses connected by brick archways. Visitors will find a beautiful historic district with 100 structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Historic architecture, commerce buildings, inns, and residences represent the settlement along the National Road. In addition to the antique buildings, visitors will find several places for antique shopping. Centerville features Indiana's largest antique mall, Webb's. Antique malls and stores are spread all across the National Road, and Centerville is a main stop on Antique Alley Trail #1.
10:48 - 8.8 miles / 17 minutes - 11:05
Indiana's famous Antique Alley consists of over 900 antique dealers along a 33-mile stretch of the Old National Road. Stretching from Richmond to Knightstown, the road loops back on SR 38 to rejoin with Richmond. The alley is rich with authentic delights, and there is an outstanding array of antiques and collectibles. You'll see extraordinary 19th-century architecture, tranquil countryside, and genuine early American culture. In Centerville, antique enthusiasts can indulge in the nation's largest antique mall as well as browse through many intriguing antique and specialty shops, several housed in quaint 19th-century rowhouses with archways.
Recently, Indiana has developed a new Antique Trail known as Trail #2. This trail also starts in Richmond but travels north along US 27 to Portland, Indiana, and then loops back through Ohio.11:50 - 0 miles / 0 - 11:50
Huddleston Farmhouse Inn Museum
Travelers have been making stops along this road since the early 1800s when this inn was built by John and Susannah Huddleston. Early travelers stopped here for provisions, shelter, and rest for both themselves and their animals. Follow the
footsteps of these first inhabitants and discover the history of the National Road as it contributed to national growth.
The Huddleston Farmhouse Inn was completed in 1841 as a 78-acre farm with a three-story house, a barn, a smokehouse, and springhouse. The inn is now furnished with its original furniture and utensils. Historians and archaeologists provide travelers with a look at the past.13:20 - 4.4 miles / 8 minutes - 13:29
Irvington Historic District is the largest National Register
District on the Historic National Road. This historic district was once the site of Butler University. Today the area is a historic residential district of homes built in the 1920s.13:59 - 121.2 miles / 4 hours 2 minutes - 18:02