Minnesota State Highway 26
Encyclopedia
Minnesota State Highway 26 is a state highway in southeastern corner of the U.S. state
of Minnesota
. At 21 miles (33.8 km) in length, Highway 26 runs parallel to the Mississippi River
and is a portion of the Great River Road
. The route begins at the Iowa
state line where it continues as Iowa Highway 26
and ends at an intersection
with Minnesota State Highway 16
, south of La Crescent
.
. The route follows a scenic path along the Mississippi River
; as such, it makes up a section of the Great River Road
. Because it is located in the Driftless Area, the Mississippi carved out a deep river valley, leaving high undulating bluffs which loom 300 feet (91.4 m) above the highway. Highway 26 is nestled between the base of the bluffs and the river channel.
MN 26 begins at the Iowa
state line near New Albin, Iowa
, where Iowa Highway 26
crosses the border from the south. Immediately upon entering Minnesota, Highway 26 enters the Richard J. Dorer State Forest
. For its first 7 miles (11.3 km), Highway 26 borders the backwaters of the Mississippi River
, which lies 2 miles (3.2 km) to the east. Near Reno
, the river widens at the pool behind Lock and Dam No. 8
.
Highway 26 continues north along the Mississippi River and the Iowa, Chicago and Eastern Railroad
line towards Brownsville
. North of Brownsville, Highway 26 begins to turn inland away from the river. Six miles (6 miles (9.7 km)) north of Brownsville, Highway 26 ends at a T intersection
with Minnesota State Highway 16
, near the Root River
and the city of La Crescent
.
. In 1980, U.S. 16 became Minnesota State Highway 16
; and Iowa Highway 182 became Iowa Highway 26
.
In August 2007, parts of Highway 26 were washed away by flooding or covered by landslides caused by unusually heavy rains. Between 10–15 in (25.4–38.1 cm) of rain fell over a two-day period.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. At 21 miles (33.8 km) in length, Highway 26 runs parallel to the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
and is a portion of the Great River Road
Great River Road
The Great River Road is a collection of state, provincial, federal, and local roads which follow the course of the Mississippi River through ten states of the United States...
. The route begins at the Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
state line where it continues as Iowa Highway 26
Iowa Highway 26
Iowa Highway 26 is a long state highway that runs from south to north in Allamakee County, Iowa. It begins in Lansing at an intersection with Iowa Highway 9 at the Black Hawk Bridge and ends at the Minnesota border at New Albin. It continues into Minnesota as Minnesota State Highway 26 . Iowa...
and ends at an intersection
Intersection (road)
An intersection is a road junction where two or more roads either meet or cross at grade . An intersection may be 3-way - a T junction or fork, 4-way - a crossroads, or 5-way or more...
with Minnesota State Highway 16
Minnesota State Highway 16
Minnesota State Highway 16 is a two-lane highway in southeast Minnesota, which runs from its interchange with Interstate Highway 90 in Dexter and continues east to its eastern terminus at its intersection with U.S. Highways 14 and 61 in La Crescent....
, south of La Crescent
La Crescent, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,923 people, 1,940 households, and 1,367 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,634.4 people per square mile . There were 2,014 housing units at an average density of 668.6 per square mile...
.
Route description
State Highway 26 serves as a north–south route in southeast Minnesota between La Crescent, MN and Lansing, IALansing, Iowa
Lansing is a city in Lansing Township, Allamakee County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,012 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Lansing's longitude and latitude coordinatesin decimal form are 43.361525, -91.223378...
. The route follows a scenic path along the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
; as such, it makes up a section of the Great River Road
Great River Road
The Great River Road is a collection of state, provincial, federal, and local roads which follow the course of the Mississippi River through ten states of the United States...
. Because it is located in the Driftless Area, the Mississippi carved out a deep river valley, leaving high undulating bluffs which loom 300 feet (91.4 m) above the highway. Highway 26 is nestled between the base of the bluffs and the river channel.
MN 26 begins at the Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
state line near New Albin, Iowa
New Albin, Iowa
New Albin is a city in Iowa Township, Allamakee County, Iowa, United States. It is the farthest northeast town in Iowa, located on the Mississippi River and the Minnesota border...
, where Iowa Highway 26
Iowa Highway 26
Iowa Highway 26 is a long state highway that runs from south to north in Allamakee County, Iowa. It begins in Lansing at an intersection with Iowa Highway 9 at the Black Hawk Bridge and ends at the Minnesota border at New Albin. It continues into Minnesota as Minnesota State Highway 26 . Iowa...
crosses the border from the south. Immediately upon entering Minnesota, Highway 26 enters the Richard J. Dorer State Forest
Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest
The Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest is a reserve of current and former forest in Minnesota's Driftless Area. Only of the land is state owned, with the remainder owned by private individuals and community groups, governed by easements...
. For its first 7 miles (11.3 km), Highway 26 borders the backwaters of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
, which lies 2 miles (3.2 km) to the east. Near Reno
Reno, Minnesota
Reno is an unincorporated community in Houston County, Minnesota, United States.The community is located between La Crescent, Minnesota and New Albin, Iowa on Minnesota State Highway 26.Reno is located at the junction of Highway 26 and County Road 249....
, the river widens at the pool behind Lock and Dam No. 8
Lock and Dam No. 8
Lock and Dam No. 8 is a lock and dam located near Genoa, Wisconsin on the Upper Mississippi River near river mile 679.2. It was constructed and put into operation by April 1937. The site underwent major rehabilitation from 1989 through 2003....
.
Highway 26 continues north along the Mississippi River and the Iowa, Chicago and Eastern Railroad
Iowa, Chicago and Eastern Railroad
The Iowa, Chicago and Eastern Railroad was a Class II railroad operating in the north central United States. It has been controlled by the Canadian Pacific Railway and operated as a part of its system since October 30, 2008...
line towards Brownsville
Brownsville, Minnesota
Brownsville is a city in Houston County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 466 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water....
. North of Brownsville, Highway 26 begins to turn inland away from the river. Six miles (6 miles (9.7 km)) north of Brownsville, Highway 26 ends at a T intersection
3-way junction
A 3-way junction is a type of road junction with three arms. A Y junction generally has 3 arms of equal size...
with Minnesota State Highway 16
Minnesota State Highway 16
Minnesota State Highway 16 is a two-lane highway in southeast Minnesota, which runs from its interchange with Interstate Highway 90 in Dexter and continues east to its eastern terminus at its intersection with U.S. Highways 14 and 61 in La Crescent....
, near the Root River
Root River
Root River may refer to:In Canada:*Root River , a tributary of the Mackenzie River*Root River , a tributary of the St. Marys River *Root River...
and the city of La Crescent
La Crescent, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,923 people, 1,940 households, and 1,367 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,634.4 people per square mile . There were 2,014 housing units at an average density of 668.6 per square mile...
.
History
State Highway 26 was designated along unmarked Legislative Route 198 in 1933. It originally connected Iowa Highway 182 and old U.S. Highway 16U.S. Route 16
U.S. Route 16 is an east–west United States Highway between Rapid City, South Dakota and Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming....
. In 1980, U.S. 16 became Minnesota State Highway 16
Minnesota State Highway 16
Minnesota State Highway 16 is a two-lane highway in southeast Minnesota, which runs from its interchange with Interstate Highway 90 in Dexter and continues east to its eastern terminus at its intersection with U.S. Highways 14 and 61 in La Crescent....
; and Iowa Highway 182 became Iowa Highway 26
Iowa Highway 26
Iowa Highway 26 is a long state highway that runs from south to north in Allamakee County, Iowa. It begins in Lansing at an intersection with Iowa Highway 9 at the Black Hawk Bridge and ends at the Minnesota border at New Albin. It continues into Minnesota as Minnesota State Highway 26 . Iowa...
.
In August 2007, parts of Highway 26 were washed away by flooding or covered by landslides caused by unusually heavy rains. Between 10–15 in (25.4–38.1 cm) of rain fell over a two-day period.