BOONSBORO – The National Road Museum, 214 N. Main St., is now open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., inviting the public to explore the story of America’s first federally funded highway. Known as “America’s Main Street” and “The Road That Built The Nation,” the museum highlights the highway’s significance, the vehicles that have traveled it for two centuries and the technology behind its designation as a “Civil Engineering Landmark.”
Admission includes entry to the Boonsboro Trolley Station Museum next door. The National Road Heritage Foundation maintains more than 50 historical markers along 170 miles of roadway in Maryland, encouraging visitors to continue their journey beyond the museum doors.
The museum introduces the people, towns and experiences that shaped the National Road, from its heyday to the present. Located along the Historic National Road Scenic Byway, the site is part of the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area and is just minutes from South Mountain Battlefield and Antietam National Battlefield in Sharpsburg.
Exhibits address the importance of good roads, especially during the Civil War, and recognize historical inequities that once existed along the route. The museum also serves as the Boonsboro Visitor Center, offering information about local attractions.
Boonsboro’s historic Main Street features preserved 19th century buildings, including Nora Roberts’ “Inn Boonsboro,” Turn the Page Bookstore and a variety of shops and restaurants. Shafer Park, located behind the museums, provides picnic and play areas and hosts community events.
Two additional community museums are within walking distance, while more museums, state and national parks, recreational opportunities and Maryland’s only show cavern are a short drive from the National Road Museum.
