National Road / Zane Grey Museum Near Columbus, Ohio is Great for History Buffs

While Norwich, Ohio, not far outside of Zanesville, probably is not on your list of places to visit in your lifetime, if you do any amount of road tripping across the United States, you will likely pass by the exit at some point.

Located on Interstate 70, not too far east of Zanesville, Ohio, Norwich does not have much to see, but it is home to one museum that is unique to the area and should be of great interest to American history buffs.

Norwich is home to The National Road / Zane Grey Museum, located at 8850 East Pike. The museum pays homage to the "Main Street of America," or the National Road. This six hundred mile stretch of road ran from Cumberland, Maryland to Vandalia, Illinois, and served as the only major path from the east coast to the middle states when it was built in the early 1800s. With westward expansion beginning around the same time the road was being built, the National Road was an unparalleled benefit to those people moving in wagon trains toward the west. A diorama, measuring one hundred and thirty-six feet illustrates the road's path and history, and life-sized scenes depict typical happenings along the road during its heyday.

If you like reading western novels, you have probably heard of Zane Grey. Called the "Father of the Adult Western," Grey, who added more than eighty stories to the western genre, lived in Zanesville, just over ten miles away. The museum has a likeness of the author's study, along with manuscripts and other artifacts of this famous American author's life.

A third section of the National Road/Zane Grey museum focuses on a topic a bit more locally themed. The area of southeastern Ohio, where Norwich is located is renowned for some of the finest pottery crafted in the United States. Though much of the industry has faded into history, this region still honors its roots in fine pottery and ceramic craftsmanship.

The museum opens for the summer season on Memorial Day Weekend, and it closes after Labor Day. It is opened for tours Wednesday through Sunday. The museum is closed on Monday and Tuesday, except for special hours on Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Groups are welcome, and the employees of the National Road / Zane Grey Museum actually consider tours for school field trips their area of expertise. Just let them know ahead of time, and the workers will plan a special day just for your group!