PA Historic Places

Searight’s Tollhouse | Legacy of the National Road

A collage of four images showcasing Searights Tollhouse in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. The top left photo displays the tollhouse's exterior with a distinctive octagonal design and 'OPEN' flag. The top right features a close-up of a weathered plaque commemorating the tollhouse as a Registered National Historic Landmark. The bottom left shows a quaint bedroom with antique furniture and window views of the countryside. The bottom right captures the tollhouse with a historical marker in the foreground.

If you’re looking for information about Searight’s Tollhouse in Fayette County, you’re in the right place!

An informative historical marker sign for the Searights Tollhouse along the National Road in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. The sign has a dark background with white and yellow text, detailing the history of the tollhouse as one of the six original toll houses on the Cumberland Road, built by the State in 1835. It stands beside a road, with lush greenery in the background and a clear blue sky with clouds above. — Searight’s Tollhouse is one of six tollhouses originally built along the PA portion of the National Road.

Searight’s Tollhouse is a historic landmark and museum along the former route of the National Road (now known as U.S. Route 40), 6 miles north of Uniontown.

Built in 1835, it is one of two surviving tollhouses (out of six) built by the state of Pennsylvania to collect tolls along the PA portion of the National Road (also known as the Cumberland Road).

An antique rates of toll sign from the Searights Tollhouse on the Cumberland Road in Pennsylvania, displayed on a weathered white wooden board with black lettering, listing various toll rates for sheep, hogs, cattle, horses with riders, and different types of carriages based on wheel size. The sign is mounted on a red brick wall, evoking the historical significance of the location. — Tolls charged along the PA portion of the National Road, AKA the Cumberland Road.

The National Road

The first road built entirely by the Federal government, the National Road started in Cumberland, Maryland in 1811 and was completed to Wheeling, VA, (now West Virginia) in 1818.

National Road mile marker in front of Searight's Tollhouse in Fayette County Pennsylvania. — Replica National Road mile marker in front of Searight’s Tollhouse.

As soon as it was opened, a tremendous amount of traffic started to travel the National Road, including stagecoaches, freight wagons, and “drovers” herding sheep and cattle to markets.

A vivid photograph capturing the Searights Tollhouse in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, featuring a charming brick building with a unique octagonal shape and a prominent chimney. A series of life-sized sheep statues are arranged in front on the lawn, leading towards the tollhouse. The house sports an 'OPEN' flag and is framed by a clear blue sky with fluffy clouds, power lines, and a stone border along the roadside. — Sculpture of a drover driving sheep to market along the National Road.

Not wanting to be on the hook for maintenance and repair costs, the federal government turned over control of the National Road to the states it passed through.

A striking image of the historic Searights Tollhouse, a two-story octagonal brick building with a white porch, under a vivid blue sky dotted with clouds in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. A historical marker in the foreground provides information about the tollhouse, stating that it was erected by Pennsylvania in 1835 to collect tolls on the old National Road. The meticulously maintained lawn and the stone wall enhance the building's historical ambiance. — Tolls were collected along the National Road until 1905.

The states, in turn, constructed tollhouses every 15 miles to collect monies for maintenance and repair of the road, a concept that dates back thousands of years and continues to this day on roads like the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Pennsylvania Turnpike exhibit at the State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg. — Pennsylvania Turnpike tollbooth exhibit at the State Museum in Harrisburg.

Eventually railroads made both the National Road and Searight’s Tollhouse obsolete; the tollhouse was subsequently restored and repurposed as a museum and was designated a Registered National Historic Landmark in 1964.

Close-up of a weathered bronze plaque on a red brick wall at Searights Tollhouse, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, declaring it a Registered National Historic Landmark. The text on the plaque, slightly eroded with time, commemorates the designation of the site under the Historic Sites Act of August 21, 1935, and mentions the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. The date at the bottom of the plaque reads 1964. — The tollhouse has been a Registered National Historic Landmark since 1964.

Exploring Searight’s Tollhouse

Searight’s Tollhouse is now operated by the Fayette County Historical Society, and is open for tours on weekends from 11am – 4pm and by appointment.

A vibrant photo of Searights Tollhouse, a historic brick building with a white porch and a prominent 'OPEN' flag, located in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. The tollhouse is set against a backdrop of a clear blue sky with fluffy clouds, accompanied by a well-maintained green lawn, a stone wall, and power lines above. To the left, a statue and several sheep sculptures are visible, adding a quaint, pastoral feel to the scene. — The tollhouse is open for free tours on weekends.

If navigating by GPS, use 7328 National Pike E, Uniontown, PA 15401 as the address for the tollhouse.

The National Road passed directly in front of Searight's Tollhouse near Uniontown in Fayette County PA. — Searight’s Tollhouse in early September.

Inside, the building has been restored and refurnished with artifacts that give a glimpse into life as a toll keeper during the 19th century.

Historic room inside the Searights Tollhouse in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, styled with period furnishings. A wooden bench and a spinning wheel sit beside a fireplace with a red mantelpiece, above which hangs a portrait of a distinguished gentleman. A table covered with a green cloth displays a small scale model of a covered wagon. An antique lamp hangs from the ceiling, casting a warm glow over the braided rug below. — First floor of the tollhouse.

Neither large nor luxurious, the tollhouses, which resembled lighthouses, provided a good view of the road and oncoming traffic in both directions.

A rustic bedroom within the Searights Tollhouse in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, featuring a large wooden bed with a white quilt and a decorative blue and red blanket. A wooden spinning wheel and chair are positioned by the window, with sheer curtains tied back to reveal a view of the green landscape outside. Red window frames add a warm touch to the room, complemented by an aged, darkened metal plaque hanging on the wall. — Second floor of the tollhouse.

The entire building has an aura of antiquity, echoing with the footsteps of countless travelers, toll keepers, and now tourists who have passed through Searight’s Tollhouse over the decades.

A cozy corner inside the Searights Tollhouse in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, with a homely feel. A wooden shelf holds ceramic dishes and gourds, with a basket of dried flowers on top. A red frame with historical portraits and pictures adorns the wall, next to an antique coat rack draped with garments including a hat, shawls, and a plaid garment. Below, a wicker basket contains a checkered cloth. A small iron and a candle lantern rest on the lower shelf, completing this snapshot of the past. — Period-correct memorabilia at the tollhouse.

Old photos, historical documents, and maps illustrate the tollhouse’s role in transportation history.

Interior wall of the Searights Tollhouse in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, adorned with a collage of framed historical photographs and portraits. Various images depict the tollhouse and other historic buildings in black and white and sepia tones, showcasing different eras and architectural details. A central, larger colored photograph draws the eye, featuring a vintage street scene. Natural light from a window is reflected in some frames, adding brightness to the display. — Photos of the tollhouse and persons who played a prominent role in its history.

A visit to Searight’s Tollhouse gives you both a richer understanding of the National Road’s impact on America’s development as well as a deeper appreciation for the local organizations involved in the preservation of our nation’s history.

A cozy interior corner of the Searights Tollhouse in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, featuring a historical display. A wooden writing desk is adorned with open ledger books, while a shelf above holds various framed images and a lantern. To the right, a tall window with red frames and white curtains allows natural light to flood the room. On a table draped with a red cloth, more framed pictures, books, and artifacts are presented, with large maps spread out for viewing. — Maps and brochures about Fayette County historical attractions.

For more information about visiting Searight’s Tollhouse, please visit the Fayette County Historical Society’s OFFICIAL WEBSITE.

A picturesque image of the Searights Tollhouse, an octagonal brick historic building, located in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. In the foreground, there is a black historical marker sign detailing the tollhouse's history, stating it was erected by Pennsylvania in 1835 to collect tolls on the old National Road. The house is surrounded by lush greenery, with a well-kept lawn in the front, under a blue sky scattered with white clouds. — Searight’s Tollhouse is operated by the Fayette County Historical Society.

Nearby Attractions

20 Must-See Attractions in Fayette County is your guide to the best things to see and do near Searight’s Tollhouse.

Collage of four seasonal outdoor scenes in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, showcasing a hiker photographing the autumn foliage, Fallingwater house surrounded by winter snow, a photographer capturing a frozen waterfall, and a person jogging on a wooden bridge amidst vibrant fall colors. — Scenes from Fayette County.

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