Searights Tollhouse, National Road
Posted by: 
renruts
N 39° 56.845 W 079° 47.657
17S E 602999 N 4422616
Drive along the National Road in Fayette County and you will encounter a toll house built in 1835.
Waymark Code: WM24QC
Location: Pennsylvania, United States
Date Posted: 09/03/2007
Views: 35
This toll house was one of six used in Pennsylvania for the frontier highway. The tollhouse was erected in 1835 and during the years immediately following construction, the house saw a never ending stream of traffic from both east and west. Wagoners, drovers, stage drivers, and mail expresses left their colorful imprints on the road's history but with the coming of the railroads to Western Pennsylvania in the 1850's, traffic over the road declined, and after the Civil War it was used chiefly for local trips. Tolls were collected until 1905. Today, Searight's and the Addison Toll House are the only tollhouses still standing today.
The Toll House borrowed its named from the nearby village of Searight which was named for its most prominent citizen, William Searight. Searight was the owner of a prosperous tavern on the National Road, he had been a contractor for the road, and was later appointed commissioner of the Pennsylvania section, but had no connection with the toll house itself.
In 1966, although the plaque on the building states 1964, the toll house was registered as a National Historic Landmark (Building - #66000665) and has been restored and now houses a museum.
Hours of operation:
from mid-May to mid-October: Tues. through Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm. Sundays, 2 pm to 6 pm.
Admission:
Adults- $1
Children- Free
Street address:
W of Uniontown off U.S. 40
Uniontown , PA USA
15401
County / Borough / Parish: Menallen Township, Uniontown, Fayette County
Year listed: 1966
Historic (Areas of) Significance: Event
Periods of significance: 1825-1849, 1850-1874, 1875-1899
Historic function: Transportation
Current function: Recreation And Culture, Museum
Privately owned?: yes
Season start / Season finish: From: 05/15/2007 To: 10/15/2007
Hours of operation: From: 10:00 AM To: 4:00 PM
Primary Web Site: [Web Link]
Secondary Website 1: [Web Link]
Secondary Website 2: Not listed
National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
Please give the date and brief account of your visit. Include any additional observations or information that you may have, particularly about the current condition of the site. Additional photos are highly encouraged, but not mandatory.