The National Parks Highway: A Historical Overview
By Curt Cunningham

The National Parks Highway was one of the earliest transcontinental routes in the United States, connecting America's major cities to its stunning national parks. Often confused with the Park-to-Park Highway, this route played a crucial role in early road travel across the country. Below is an overview of the history and significance of the National Parks Highway, based on an article published by the Spokane Review on July 27, 1915.

About the Highway

The National Parks Highway was an early transcontinental route, officially dedicated on June 15, 1915. While it technically began in New York, most of the route's focus was on the segment running from Chicago westward, leading to prominent national parks such as Yellowstone, Glacier, and Mount Rainier. From Seattle, the highway extended southward, connecting with the Pacific Highway and continuing to the national parks in Oregon and California. Covering over 3,500 miles from Chicago to Seattle, this ambitious road predated the interstate highway system, which didn't exist at the time.

In the early 20th century, the concept of long-distance automobile travel was still new. The roads were often rough and unmarked, and early routes like the National Parks Highway were stitched together by linking existing local roads. Travelers relied heavily on the Good Roads Associations, which were local organizations across the country that helped maintain roads and provide travelers with vital information. These associations offered maps and advice, as there were no official road signs or standardized maps in the early days of automobile travel.

Community Involvement

The Good Roads Associations stationed representatives in the towns along the highway to inform travelers about road conditions and routes. These towns greatly appreciated the efforts of the volunteers because tourism brought much-needed revenue. This period, beginning around 1912 with the rise of the automobile, marked a turning point in how Americans traveled. For the first time, people could explore the country by car, offering a sense of freedom that trains couldn’t match.

The development of auto camps, motels, and roadside accommodations soon followed, as a new industry grew to serve the increasing number of automobile travelers. Towns along the highway quickly organized road maintenance committees, ensuring their portion of the route was well-maintained. The national associations conducted regular reviews of the highway and reported any issues. Local communities were eager to avoid negative reports, as poor road conditions could deter travelers and hurt their economies.

National Significance and Legacy

As interstate travel became more prominent, the U.S. government took notice of these early routes, recognizing their potential for more than just tourism. The National Parks Highway was evaluated for its suitability as a military transport route, particularly during World War I, when reliable cross-country roads became a strategic asset.

While the National Parks Highway is less known today compared to other early transcontinental routes such as the Yellowstone Trail and the Lincoln Highway, it holds an important place in the history of American road travel. The National Parks Highway and the Yellowstone Trail closely paralleled each other through many parts of the Midwest and West, diverging slightly in states like Michigan and Wisconsin before converging in Montana. From there, they followed a shared path all the way to Seattle. Today, much of this original route has been modernized and replaced by Interstate 90.

Rediscovering the Historic Route

Although modern highways like I-90 have largely replaced the old transcontinental roads, it is still possible to retrace the path of the National Parks Highway. Today's travelers have the luxury of paved roads and modern amenities, but the scenic beauty along the way remains much the same as it was 100 years ago. Fortunately, we no longer need to contend with the muddy, treacherous conditions that early motorists faced, especially during the winter months.

In conclusion, the National Parks Highway deserves to be remembered as a pioneering route in the history of American transportation. Its impact on tourism, road development, and community involvement set the stage for the more advanced highway systems we benefit from today. Taking time to explore this historical route offers a glimpse into the early days of cross-country travel, when adventure and discovery awaited at every bend in the road.