LAVALE — Guided tours at the historic LaVale Toll Gate House are returning for the 2026 season, welcoming visitors to experience a unique piece of America’s early transportation history.
America’s first road trip began in Allegany County at mile marker “0” of the Historic National Road, an iconic route that expanded trade and commerce and laid the foundation for the nation’s modern highway system, according to a release from the Allegany County Office of Tourism.
Construction of the National Road began in 1811, connecting Cumberland to the Ohio River and opening a vital corridor to the trans-Appalachian West. Today, travelers can explore this state and nationally designated Historic National Road Scenic Byway and step into the past at the LaVale Toll Gate House.
Built in 1835 after Maryland assumed ownership of the road, the LaVale Toll Gate House was the first toll house constructed along the National Road in Maryland and is the last remaining of its kind in the state. The distinctive seven-sided structure once served as a collection point for tolls, helping to fund the maintenance of one of America’s most important early infrastructure projects.
As Maryland and the nation commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States, sites like the LaVale Toll Gate House offer visitors a tangible connection to the movement, innovation and expansion that shaped the country’s early years.
Tours will be offered from noon to 4 p.m. on May 2, 3, 15 and 17; June 12, 13, 14, 19, 20 and 21; July 4-5; Aug. 1-2; Sept. 12-13; and Oct. 3-4.
There is no cost or reservations needed to tour the Toll House.
The LaVale Toll Gate House is located at 14302 National Highway. For more information, visit www.mdmountainside.com.