The Lancaster-Philadelphia Turnpike was the first long distance, hard-surfaced road in America. It was built as a result of an act of the Philadelphia Assembly on April 9, 1792.

The Lancaster-Philadelphia Turnpike was the first long distance, hard-surfaced road in America.

The Assembly wanted to make it practical for farmers in Lancaster County to get their goods to Philadelphia markets. Before the turnpike farmers took their produce to the port of Baltimore. Because Pennsylvania did not have the funds to build the road, a private company was formed to raise funds, build the road, and administer tolls charged to travelers. Designed by Scotsman John Loudon Macadam, the road was made of layers of crushed stone and gravel to prevent the wheels of wagons and carriages from sinking through. That was a big step up from the rutted dirt roads of the time. The surface allowed stage wagons to average five to seven miles per hour.

The turnpike was an instant success. Soon a series of taverns and inns graced its length.

The word turnpike comes from the fact that a long pole, or pike, was placed across the road at the toll station. As soon as the travelers paid the toll, the pike was "turned" to allow them to proceed. It was over this road system that Meriwether Lewis traveled in May 1803.

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