Wind River Canyon Road Celebrates Centennial

It's one of Wyoming's most beautiful drives.

It's also one of the most important roads in America.

Most people don't know that last part.

WYDOT, Wyoming State Parks & Cultural Resources, tribal representatives and local historians recently gathered to honor a highway that’s not only one of the state’s top scenic drives, but a critical route for keeping the Big Horn Basin accessible.

During construction, it was the most expensive road construction project in the nation.

Before the road was built driving to Thermopolis was an 11-hour dive. The new road dropped that time to just an hour.

A ceremony to celebrate the 100th anniversary of highway transportation through Wind River Canyon took place on Oct. 1.

The 10 a.m. ceremony took place at the Lower Wind River Campground picnic shelter along the Wind River near the canyon highway tunnels.

Following Dorothy's talk, attendees were invited to walk on to U.S. 20/Wyoming 789 to cut a ribbon symbolizing the beginning of the next 100 years of transportation in Wind River Canyon.

A prayer closed the ceremony.

It was Wyoming Governor John Kendrick, who served in Wyoming's highest political office from 1915-1917 who signed off on the highway.

"I believe that the canyon route is an entirely feasible one and that when the money for building it is available, it will become one of the best scenic routes in Wyoming," Kendrick said while he was Wyoming's governor.

Work began in June 1922 on the new Yellowstone Highway through Wind River Canyon (U.S. 20/Wyoming 789). The new highway route was chosen to replace the more challenging Birds Eye Pass route over the Owl Creek Mountains.

Construction of the highway through Wind River Canyon was completed two years later, over-budget.

The completed highway was 12 miles long, and at the time, was the most expensive road project in America. The price: $750,000.

The first automobile passed over the new Yellowstone Highway in Wind River Canyon on Jan. 22, 1924.

The official year-round opening of the highway happened in October 1924.