Historic Mile Marker Unveiled in Cambridge

CAMBRIDGE, OH – The Cambridge/Guernsey County Visitors and Convention Bureau celebrated a piece of local history with a ribbon-cutting for a National Road mile marker.

Mile Marker 161 was originally found in Licking County near the Great Circle Earthworks. The marker was officially unveiled on October 22nd in a special ceremony at the Edgeworth entrance to Cambridge City Park. Local officials and community leaders gathered to reflect on the importance of the National Road and the restoration of its mile markers.

“The National Road stretched from Maryland to Vandalia Illinois. It was the first federally funded highway. It’s very important,” Group Sales Mgr,, Cambridge/ Guernsey Co, VCB Dixie Lacy said.

The miles markers were once used like a map for travelers along the National Road. Restoring mile markers like this one helps keep that history alive for future generations to appreciate.

“It benefits them because they can learn their history firsthand. We love this because someone can come up, walk up, or even drive up and touch it and learn about the history. This was a map. Before that, they might’ve said ‘turn left at the red barn.’ or the old oak tree. A storm can take the oak tree down, these are going to be here. They’re some of the oldest things in Ohio, in the U.S.,” Lacy said.

A second ribbon-cutting ceremony was held near Entrance 1 to the Guernsey County Fairgrounds for Mile Marker 171.