National Park Service LogoU.S. Department of the InteriorNational Park ServiceNational Park Service
National Park Service:  U.S. Department of the InteriorNational Park Service Arrowhead
Glacier National ParkFireweed
view map
text size:largestlargernormal
printer friendly
Glacier National Park
Going-to-the-Sun Road 75th Anniversary
 
Going-to-the-Sun Road 75th Anniversary Logo

On July 15, 1933, a marvel of engineering was officially dedicated during a public ceremony atop Logan Pass in Montana’s Glacier National Park. On that date, the ‘Transmountain Road’ was officially renamed the Going-to-the-Sun Highway after the mountain that bears the name. It is no wonder that upon the road’s dedication, Glacier National Park’s Superintendent Eivind Scoyen described the Going-to-the-Sun Road as, “The most beautiful piece of mountain road in the world.” 

The construction of the Going-to-the-Sun Road (Sun Road) ushered in an era of partnership between federal agencies. In 1926, the Bureau of Public Roads, now Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) signed a formal agreement with the National Park Service (NPS) that began a working partnership at Glacier that continues today in national parks and other public lands throughout the U.S. 

The Sun Road continues to serve as a national model for context-sensitive road design and construction that is both conscious of, and complimentary to, scenic landscapes as well as cultural and natural resources. In the 75 years since its completion, this scenic mountain road out of rock has taken countless visitors to the heights of the Continental Divide.

Now, the Sun Road is being ‘reborn:’ a comprehensive rehabilitation of this 50-mile National Historic Landmark and Civil Engineering Landmark is bringing much-needed work to preserve and protect one of Montana’s favorite suns.

In 2008, the NPS, FHWA and many partners and neighbors celebrate the vision of this engineering marvel along with the remarkable workmanship, spirit of partnership and overall dedication to the preservation of this treasured “Landmark in the Sky.”

Online Press Kit:

QuickTime logo
Transportation Options at Glacier National Park
25.9Mb QuickTime file (5:04)
more...
Grizzly bears  

Did You Know?
Grizzly bears in the park have a wide variety of food sources, including glacier lily bulbs, insects, and berries. They may also make an early season meal of mountain goats that were swept down in avalanches over the winter.

Last Updated: October 01, 2008 at 12:39 EST