The ‘Most Recognizable’ City in the US—Zanesville, OH

What’s the most recognizable city in all of the U.S.? If you were to ask Amelia Earhart, that would be Zanesville, OH.

Her opinion was due to the city’s unique bridge spanning the Muskingum River. But before we get to that, let’s take a brief look at Zanesville’s history—because there’s a lot of it.

The area’s history traces back all the way to the mid-18th century, when Ebenezer Zane, a pioneer and trailblazer, established Zane’s Trace. In 1797, Zane gave a plot of land to his son-in-law, John McIntire, where Zane’s Trace reached the Muskingum River.

Two years later, McIntire set up an inn and a ferry service at the spot, which soon turned into a pioneer town. Although Zane himself wanted the new village to be named Westbourne, it was officially renamed to Zanesville in his honor in 1801.

Considering its history begins with one, roads have always been important around Zanesville. The National Road (which eventually turned into US 40, one of the first U.S. highways established in 1926) passed through the city and fed its growth, as did the I-70 that came after it.