Welcome to New Concord

John Glenn said, "sometimes it seems to me that Norman Rockwell must have taken all his inspiration from New Concord, Ohio." John's fond childhood memories include playing with friends in backyards and streams, hunting in the woods, 15-cent sundaes and church on Sunday mornings.

He also remembers the flag waving parades on Memorial Day (then called Decoration Day), the Fourth of July, and Armistice Day. On Memorial Day, after the parade, families would gather at the cemetery to play tribute to soldiers who had lost their lives fighting for their country. John's father, who was a bugler in WWI, would play Taps, and then families would place flowers on the graves of their loved ones. One year, after John had learned to play the trumpet well enough, his father asked him to join him. John proudly accepted and to this day he says, "echo taps still gives me chills."

New Concord sits astride the National Road, America's first federally funded highway which opened the doors to the west. The road has been designated an All-American Road National Scenic Byway by the Federal Highway Administration. A unique feature of the road is its S-Bridges. Few remain, but New Concord's S Bridge has been restored and is part of a small park for visitors to enjoy.

The National Road/Zane Grey Museum is just 5 miles west of New Concord and is the only museum along the entire 824 miles of the road specifically constructed to interpret National Road history. Owned by the Ohio Historical Society, it features a diorama, photographs and other exhibits of life on the road and the vehicles that traveled it.

New Concord is home to Muskingum College from which John & Annie Glenn both graduated. Another attraction is Harper Cabin on Main Street. Built in 1834, this log cabin was home to William Rainey Harper who graduated from Muskingum at the age of 13 and became the founder of the University of Chicago.

Business and attractions along the National Road, east of Zanesville to New Concord, have joined together to market their "Historic Stops and Unique Shops". Other tourism sites in the area include The Wilds, The Longaberger Homestead and Salt Fork State Park. Zanesville, to our west, is known as the "Y Bridge City" and the "Pottery Capital of the World" while Cambridge, to our east, is known for its quality glass, and is home to fine glass museums. For more information on these attractions and more, visit www.visitzanesville.com and www.visitguernseycounty.com.