Trailblazers & Founders Memorial
The 250th anniversary of American Independence is the perfect time to celebrate the Trailblazers and founders of Zanesville who fought for American independence, and contributed to the growth and success of Ohio after the war.
Ebenezer Zane, who forged Zane’s Trace and after whom the city of Zanesville is named, was a Colonel in the Revolutionary War,
his brother and co-founder of Zanesville, Jonathan, was a Captain and Border Scout.
The plaques in Confluence Park will be the first public site in Zanesville to tell their story.
The Trailblazers & Founders Memorial is a three-fold project:
Trailblazers & Founders Memorial in Confluence Park,
Free Booklet - “Crossing the Confluence”
Ribbon-Cutting celebration in 2026
Trailblazers & Founders memorial at confluence Park
Three granite stones will display a map of Zane’s Trace through Muskingum County, the story of Zane’s Trace, the names of the nine men who formed it, as well as the biographies and portraits of Captain Jonathan Zane and John McIntire, the founders of Zanesville. The stones will sit directly in front of the confluence of the Licking and Muskingum Rivers. They will serve as an outdoor “exhibit” as visitors will be able to observe the rivers’ display of water power and learn how Colonel Zane chose this location for his crossing, and eventually the city of Zanesville. The City of Zanesville will install a cement walkway leading up to and surrounding the plaques, as well as the foundations for the stones that will display them.
The site of the plaques will be located right next to the confluence of the Licking and Muskingum Rivers, serving as an outdoor exhibit. Visitors will be able to observe the confluence, and its display of water power, and learn how it inspired Col. Zane to choose this location for his crossing, and eventually the city of Zanesville.
Portrait of John McIntire, co-founder of Zanesville
An artist who will improve this rendering of Captain Jonathan Zane originally painted by Howard Chandler Christy, based on Zane Grey’s description in The Long Trail.
“Crossing the Confluence”
A booklet will be created telling the amazing story of the Zane family, the Zane’s Trace and the founders of Zanesville will be provided free to the public. The booklet will be distributed to schools, museums, libraries, and tourist locations throughout Muskingum County with the assistance of the Zanesville-Muskingum County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Ebenezer Zane was a Colonel and the Commander of Fort Henry in Wheeling, West Virginia, where the last land battle of the Revolutionary War was fought. If that conflict had happened differently, Zanesville, as we know it, would not exist.
After the war, Zane saw the need for a road beyond the Ohio River. The difficulties he observed were that, for the delivery of mail and for those pursuing a better life westward, travel down the Ohio River was expensive, time consuming, and dangerous.
A list of the Trailblazers will be sandblasted on the back of the large center stone. Ebenezer Zane was a Colonel in the Revolutionary War, Jonathan Zane was a Captain and Border Scout, and William McCulloch and John Green were Privates. Tomepomehala was an Indian guide who helped Col. Zane navigate.
Credit: John Barr, The Zane’s Trace: A New Road in a New Country.
A map of Muskingum County with Zane’s Trace will be on the tall center stone. The plaque will show the Licking and Muskingum Rivers, Zane’s Trace, and all towns and cities located near the trail.
In 1796, Congress approved his request to make a trail from Wheeling, (now West) Virginia to Limestone (now Maysville), Kentucky. Zane enlisted trusted friends and fellow veterans to construct the 200 mile long trail. Where Ebenezer Zane chose to cross the Muskingum River would later become the City of Zanesville, and the portion of Zane’s Trace from Wheeling, West Virginia to Zanesville eventually formed part of the National Road (Route 40).
Ribbon-Cutting Celebration in 2026
In 2026, there will be a ribbon-cutting celebration to mark the 230th anniversary of Congress’ approval of Zane’s Trace, the first federally commissioned road in America, and to celebrate Zanesville’s first tribute to the Zane’s Trace and its founders. The celebration will be open to the community and will feature public speakers, the planting of a Liberty Tree provided by the City of Zanesville, history-related activities for kids, and much, much more!!
Why this project? Why now?
The Trailblazers and Founders Memorial will be seen by citizens of, and visitors to, Zanesville multiple times a year, especially during the annual Independence Day celebrations and fireworks - Stars and Stripes on the River.
The plaque program, publications, and community event in 2025 will serve as a valuable precursor to Muskingum County’s 250th anniversary celebrations in 2026.
Our goal is that the plaques and publications will educate and inspire pride in the community.
