a day / 222 miles / 7 hours 24 minutes
The Historic National Road was the nation's first federally funded interstate highway. It opened the nation to the west and became a corridor for the movement of goods and people. Today, visitors experience a physical timeline, including classic inns, tollhouses, diners and motels that trace 200 years of American history.
Day 1
9:00 - 115.5 miles / 3 hours 50 minutes - 12:50
Blacklick Woods Metro Park is a 632-acre park that
includes the Walter A. Tucker Nature Preserve, a swamp preserve designated a National Natural Landmark. Other activities available here include a four-mile trail, picnic facilities, nature center, a golf course, and cross-country
skiing. Meeting facilities and restrooms are also available.13:20 - 52.3 miles / an hour 44 minutes - 15:05
Heritage Center of Clark County
The Heritage Center of Clark County is housed in a huge, Romanesque historic market building that once was City Hall. Renovation of the building for use as a multi-purpose heritage facility was completed in 2001. It includes a museum, commercial space, a research facility, and archives for the Clark County Historical Society. A portion of the museum is dedicated to the history of the National Road. The Heritage Center provides an excellent introduction to local history and traditions for byway visitors, and the potential for creating a visitor center there is being discussed. A small cafe, gift shop, and restrooms are available.
15:35 - 0.6 miles / a minute - 15:36
The Pennsylvania House Museum, owned and operated by the Lagonda Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, is a historic National Road tavern from 1822. The museum, which features period furnishings and collections of dolls and buttons, holds a monthly open house. Otherwise, private group tours must be arranged in advance.
15:56 - 18.6 miles / 37 minutes - 16:34
Taylorsville Metro Park is part of the Dayton area's Five Rivers
MetroParks system. It consists of 1,293 acres surrounding the Great
Miami River. Included in this area are historic sites such as the
ruins of the pike town of Tadmor and the Miami & Erie Canal, as
well as nearly 13 miles of hiking trails along the Great Miami
River and part of the Buckeye Trail, a 1200-mile long trail
encircling Ohio. Other activities include picnicking, fighing,
sledding, cross-country skiiing, and canoeing.
The impoundment of the Great Miami River in the mid-20th Century
forced the abandonment of the village of Tadmor, located on the
west bank of the Great Miami River in Montgomery County. Tadmor was
an important transportation nexus since it was the point where the
National Road crossed both the Miami & Erie Canal and Dayton
& Michigan Railroad line. Some ruins remain and can be seen
from the Tadmor Trail.16:54 - 6.4 miles / 12 minutes - 17:06
Englewood Metro Park is a 1,925-acre park that includes the Pumpkin Ash/Swamp Forest (a State Natural Landmark), and three waterfalls. Aullwood Garden, a 32-acre estate garden donated by Mrs. John Aull, adjoins Aullwood Audubon Center. Englewood has 12 miles of hiking trails, guided trail rides, picnicking, fishing, canoeing, bicycling (paved path as well as a bike lane marked on main park road), and cross-country skiing. Stillwater State Scenic River runs through the park.
17:51 - 28.9 miles / 57 minutes - 18:49