FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Allegany County Office of Tourism
701 Kelly Road
Cumberland, MD 21502
tourism@alleganygov.org
www.mdmountainside.com 


Historic LaVale Toll Gate House Opens for the 2026 Season
Guided tours available May through October

April 28, 2026 - CUMBERLAND, MD – Allegany County Tourism is pleased to announce the return of guided tours at the historic LaVale Toll Gate House for the 2026 season, welcoming visitors to experience a unique piece of America’s early transportation history.

America’s first road trip began right here 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.

Construction of the National Road began in 1811, connecting Cumberland, Maryland, 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 the State of 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. This 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.

Guided tours will be offered from Noon to 4:00 p.m. on the following dates:

  • May 2, 3, 15, and 17
  • June 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, and 21
  • July 4 and 5
  • August 1 and 2
  • September 12 and 13
  • October 3 and 4

There is no cost or reservations needed to tour the Toll House.

The LaVale Toll Gate House is located at 14302 National Highway SW, Cumberland, MD 21502. For more information, please visit www.mdmountainside.com. 

###