Curious people driving along some Butler County roads now can learn more about George Washington’s 1753 trek through the county.

Washington’s Trail 1753, a nonprofit that commemorates Washington’s travels that year, has developed an audio tour using the Tour Anytime phone system.

More than 35 years before he became the first president of the United States, Washington and his guide, Christopher Gist, traveled through the county on his way from Virginia to Erie.

“Our whole purpose is to commemorate his travels through here and to make people aware that Washington did come through here,” said retired Butler County Judge Martin O’Brien.

O’Brien, who is on the Washington’s Trail 1753 board, also is on the board of the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area, which hosts the Tour Anytime phone system.

Washington’s Trail 1753 received a $1,500 grant from the Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau to pay for the project. It also got a $2,000 grant from Rivers of Steel.

To access the system, people may call 412-254-2154 on their cell phones and enter the extension number on the sign. Callers will hear a recorded message. Extension 449 offers general information about Washington’s mission.

Different extensions are posted at the locations, and offer information about Washington’s time there. These include:

• Ext. 450, Zelienople

• Ext. 451, Harmony

• Ext. 452, Portersville

• Ext. 453, Slippery Rock

• Ext. 454, Harrisville

• Ext. 455, The Old Stone House

• Ext. 456, Prospect

• Ext. 457, Evans City

• Ext. 458, Cranberry Township

Signs have been installed at these locations to let people know about the phone system. They have been attached to the existing signs denoting Washington’s Trail, which were installed in 2003 to celebrate the 250th anniversary of his trek.

The signs are along Route 19, Route 8 and Route 528. Rodney Gasch, a Washington’s Trail 1753 board member, said these were Indian paths before they were highways, and it is extremely likely they were the routes Washington used.

O’Brien said there is no way to know the exact route Washington would have taken, but he said much of the information came from detailed entries in Washington’s diary.

“I think it’s historically pretty accurate,” O’Brien said.

Printed brochures with maps will be placed at different sites in the county so people can follow Washington’s path.

The 21-year-old Washington traveled from Virginia through Pennsylvania on a diplomatic mission from the governor of Virginia. At the time, land in Butler County was claimed by both France and Great Britain.

Gasch said the event was important in Washington’s development, and it helped him to move up in the Virginia militia. He also said the event led directly to the French and Indian War, after Washington reported French activities back to Virginia’s governor.

“It’s a really pivotal event in two parts of American history,” Gasch said.

The trip was not easy. Washington survived an assassination attempt near Evans City on Dec. 27, 1753. He also had to put up with harsh winter weather, including heavy rain, snow and cold temperatures. O’Brien noted winters in Virginia generally are milder.

“Washington complained in his diary about the extreme weather,” O’Brien said.