King’s Highway tells the story of George Washington and the French travels during the Revolutionary War

Long before European settlers arrived in Northern Virginia Native Americans traveled numerous waterways in the region.

The few paths around the area frequently followed high ridges between the rivers and creeks. In this area, the trail was commonly referred to as The Potomac Path by early provincials in the area, and they were charged by the General Assembly to keep their “highways clear of vegetation. “

By the end of the 17th century, this road was formally known as the Potomac Path, established to travel the most “convenient wayes to the Church, to the Court, to James Towne and from County to County.” As communities expanded, the route became the artery of Prince William County – Churches and Chapels were established along its way, as were public tobacco warehouses, businesses, and courthouses.

By 1755 the Fry & Jefferson Map identified the road as the “King’s Highway” and mail service was transported along the route. For generations, this road was little better than a rough path, wide enough for a few wagons. It connected rural estates and small homesteads, to small communities dotting the eastern seaboard.

During the Revolutionary War, the road in what today is eastern Prince William County would gain new significance. In 1781 the Comte de Rochambeau arrived from England with reinforcements of ground troops to support the American War effort.

The plan was to converge on Yorktown and end the war. Most troops traveled by boat, but General Washington and the Comte de Rochambeau, their staff, the artillery, and baggage begin to move south on the Kings Highway to Yorktown.

They would arrive in Yorktown in mid-October and lend a hand to the siege. A year later, having won the war, the French would travel the same route north to Boston on their way home.

Small sections of this road still exist through Prince William County and Northern Virginia and are undergoing preservation efforts from the county’s Historic Preservation Division and the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.

This route tells the story of our history beyond the travels of General Washington and the French during the Revolutionary War. It was traveled by Native Americans, ordinary citizens, and some of the most extraordinary individuals in our history.

And in the future, we hope that you experience these same pathways that our ancestors did.