Along the Baltimore and Frederick-Town Turnpike, also known as the old National Pike, stone mile markers denoted mileage to Baltimore, including one whose hand-chiseled inscription once read 35 M To B, meaning 35 miles to Baltimore. This practice of carving mileage in stone dated back more than 2000 years to Roman road builders and continued in 19th century America. Forty-five markers were placed one mile apart from Baltimore to Frederick, primarily on the north side of the road, and they were a welcome sight to weary travelers moving slowly in horse-drawn carriages and wagons, with heavily laden wagons often covering only a few miles a day. Although built to last, many were displaced by road improvements for modern travel, and only a few remain in their original locations. This stretch of the National Pike once carried busy traffic of merchants and farmers hauling raw materials and farm products eastward to market, and early traveler James Buckingham observed among the farmers, country dealers, and speculators passing from town to town a spirit of mutual forbearance and good nature.