Commerce

With Expanding Commerce and Transportation, we examine some of the economic impact the National Road and other roads like it offered to the growing nation.

Focal points include:

• The full Road’s starting point at the Port of Baltimore (Baltimore to Cumberland were earlier privately owned roads, the federal National Road extended this roadway westward)
• A reliable road for large heavy Conestoga Wagons carrying farm goods east or settlers’ entire households west
• Raw materials more easily transported and the growth of industry
• The availability of mass produced goods being shipped long distances
• The advent of automobile related businesses.

In addition to the wall display, a barrel serves as an interactive display, discussing the various uses of that storage container.  Lifting the lid provides eggs as an example, where a single barrel could safely transport 70 dozen (840) eggs layered with straw.

Several of the artifacts pictured in the Commerce exhibit, as well as other exhibits throughout the museum, are displayed in our exhibit case at the present time.  This includes an original Baltimore umbrella and oyster can and a box of Wheeling stogies.

Phase II

Commerce and Transportation

This exhibit would expand with artifacts incorporated directly into the display.  Long term plans have at times also included a diorama showing forms of transportation and architecture along the National Road during different time periods.

Display Case

Once artifacts have been incorporated into their associated exhibits, this showcase would become Pike Towns, a rotating display featuring different stories and locations along the National Road in Maryland.