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Only a few.

Only a few miles of rough wagon roads existed within Glacier National Park when Congress

established it on May 11th, 1910.

Many people, including the first Park Superintendent, William R Logan, wanted to build a trans-mountain

road across the park. Supporters argued that a good road system would enable people to reach the interior of the park

even if they could not afford the rates of the Great Northern Railroad in its

shalays. An enthusiasm for good roads and automobiles had infected National Park Service officials as much as the rest of the country.

But shear cliffs, short construction seasons, 60 foot snow drifts, and tons of solid rock made the idea of building a road across the

continental divide a unique challenge.

I'm Jason Epperson and today on America's National Parks,

Glaciers Going to the Sun Road.

Though there was support, many people raised objections to such a drive.

A few local businessmen thought it would be inefficient and foolish to construct a road

through the Park Southern Boundary next to the Great Northern Railroad

tracks. Eventually, they were convinced by the additional tourist dollars the road would bring

to their local communities.

By 1921, when Congress provided the first appropriation,

...