At first glance Zane Grey, a very successful author who wrote more than 90 books, and US 40 in Ohio don’t seem to have much in common but there’s a reason that they’re both in this museum. Zane’s great-grandfather Ebenezer Zane oversaw construction of the first road running from Wheeling, West Virginia to Kentucky. It was a rough road, barely more than a trail, but eventually the section from Wheeling to Zanesville, Ohio became part of the National Road (US 40), the first major improved highway in the United States to be built by the federal government.
The museum has a wonderful diorama portraying the National Road through time, from wilderness and clearing the trees to wide paved roads and city landscapes. The story of Zane Gray’s life and career is told with many personal artifacts and posters from the numerous movies based on his books.
The museum is accessible but a ramped sidewalk without a landing and an entrance door that opens out makes entering awkward. The museum hallway makes a complete circle through the displays. A ramp at the end is steep but can be avoided by back tracking.
The parking lot is large enough for any RV. Museum
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