Part of it is named for Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, hero of the Battle of Lake Erie.

In northern Washington County, US 19 was modernized after the former Pittsburgh Railways Interurban (PRCo) trolley service was discontinued in August 1953.

Continuing through Mercer and Crawford counties, the route meets its terminus at a junction with US 20 in Erie.

[citation needed] In 1987, the Phase One project started to connect two sections of Ohio River Boulevard near Western Avenue and Chateau Street.

[2] PennDOT started construction on a multilane roundabout at the intersection of US 19, US 6, US 322, and PA 98 in Vernon Township, near Meadville.

PA 97 was realigned to meet US 19 at a 90-degree angle, and new left turn lanes and traffic signals were installed.