Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway
Encyclopedia
The Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway is a National Scenic Byway
in the Black Hills National Forest
in South Dakota
, USA. It is a loop which is composed of portions of U.S. Route 16A
, South Dakota Highway 244
, South Dakota Highway 87
, and South Dakota Highway 89
. Parts of the byway enter Black Hills National Forest
, Custer State Park
and the Mt. Rushmore National Memorial; the byway also passes within five miles (8 km) of the Crazy Horse Memorial
. The byway is named after Peter Norbeck
, who served as governor
of and senator for South Dakota.
, the Iron Mountain Road, south of Keystone
. This portion of the highway includes several tunnels and pigtail bridge
s. The byway enters Custer State Park along its eastern edge and turns west at its intersection with SD 36
. In the western part of the state park, the byway splits into two highways, one which follows US 16A westward and one which follows SD 87
northward. The US 16A portion of the byway runs into Custer
, where the byway becomes part of SD 89
and heads north. This portion of the byway meets the SD 87 portion in the northwest corner of Custer State Park. The byway then follows SD 87 to its intersection with US 16
and US 385, where it becomes part of the nearby SD 244
. The byway follows SD 244 westward into the Mount Rushmore National Memorial, where it meets up with US 16A.
when he was a U.S. Senator. Norbeck's first major proposal was the Needles Highway, which comprises the SD 87 portion of the byway and cuts through the Needles
. Though engineers of the time said a highway could not be built in the Needles, the highway still came into existence. Norbeck also proposed the Iron Mountain Road, the US 16A section of the byway. The byway was established on September 23, 1996, and named in honor of Norbeck.
National Scenic Byway
A National Scenic Byway is a road recognized by the United States Department of Transportation for its archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, and/or scenic qualities. The program was established by Congress in 1991 to preserve and protect the nation's scenic but often...
in the Black Hills National Forest
Black Hills National Forest
Black Hills National Forest is located in southwestern South Dakota and northeastern Wyoming. The forest has an area of over 1.25 million acres and is managed by the Forest Service. Forest headquarters are located in Custer, South Dakota...
in South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
, USA. It is a loop which is composed of portions of U.S. Route 16A
U.S. Route 16A (South Dakota)
U.S. Route 16A is a scenic United States highway, which divides from U.S. Route 16 in the Black Hills of South Dakota. The highway's eastern terminus is at a junction with US 16 called the Keystone Wye south of Rapid City, South Dakota...
, South Dakota Highway 244
South Dakota Highway 244
South Dakota Highway 244 is a short state highway located entirely within Pennington County, South Dakota which provides access to Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Highway 244 runs generally east–west between its eastern terminus at US 16A near Keystone and its western terminus at US 16/US...
, South Dakota Highway 87
South Dakota Highway 87
South Dakota Highway 87 is a highway running through the Black Hills of the U.S. state of South Dakota. The road's northern terminus is U.S. Route 16 and U.S. Route 385 about south of Hill City. The road's southern terminus is U.S. Route 385 about east of Pringle, South Dakota, or north of Hot...
, and South Dakota Highway 89
South Dakota Highway 89
South Dakota Highway 89 is a state highway in southwest South Dakota. The highway is long and runs from U.S. Route 18 near Minnekahta to South Dakota Highway 87 in Custer State Park. SD 89 is co-signed with U.S. Route 385 from Pringle to Custer...
. Parts of the byway enter Black Hills National Forest
Black Hills National Forest
Black Hills National Forest is located in southwestern South Dakota and northeastern Wyoming. The forest has an area of over 1.25 million acres and is managed by the Forest Service. Forest headquarters are located in Custer, South Dakota...
, Custer State Park
Custer State Park
Custer State Park is a state park and wildlife reserve in the Black Hills of southwestern South Dakota, USA. The park is South Dakota's largest and first state park, named after Lt...
and the Mt. Rushmore National Memorial; the byway also passes within five miles (8 km) of the Crazy Horse Memorial
Crazy Horse Memorial
The Crazy Horse Memorial is a mountain monument complex that is under construction on privately held land in the Black Hills, in Custer County, South Dakota. It represents Crazy Horse, an Oglala Lakota warrior, riding a horse and pointing into the distance. The memorial was commissioned by Lakota...
. The byway is named after Peter Norbeck
Peter Norbeck
Peter Norbeck served as the ninth Governor of South Dakota, and as a United States Senator. Norbeck was the first Governor of South Dakota to have been born within the borders of the state.-Biography:...
, who served as governor
Governor of South Dakota
The Governor of South Dakota is the head of the executive branch of the government of South Dakota. They are elected to a four year term on even years when there is no Presidential election. The current governor is Dennis Daugaard, a Republican elected in 2010....
of and senator for South Dakota.
Route description
The Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway consists of a loop made up of four numbered highways. The byway is part of US 16AU.S. Route 16A (South Dakota)
U.S. Route 16A is a scenic United States highway, which divides from U.S. Route 16 in the Black Hills of South Dakota. The highway's eastern terminus is at a junction with US 16 called the Keystone Wye south of Rapid City, South Dakota...
, the Iron Mountain Road, south of Keystone
Keystone, South Dakota
Keystone is a town in the Black Hills region of Pennington County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 337 at the 2010 census. It had its origins in 1883 as a mining town, and has since transformed itself into a resort town, serving the needs of the millions of visitors to Mount...
. This portion of the highway includes several tunnels and pigtail bridge
Pigtail bridge
A spiral bridge, loop bridge, or pigtail bridge is a road bridge which loops over its own road, allowing the road to climb rapidly...
s. The byway enters Custer State Park along its eastern edge and turns west at its intersection with SD 36
South Dakota Highway 36
South Dakota Highway 36 is a state route located in southwest South Dakota. It begins at the junction of U.S. Highway 16A on the eastern edge of Custer State Park, and ends at South Dakota Highway 79 just south of Hermosa. It is 18 miles in length.-History:South Dakota 36 was implemented in 1926...
. In the western part of the state park, the byway splits into two highways, one which follows US 16A westward and one which follows SD 87
South Dakota Highway 87
South Dakota Highway 87 is a highway running through the Black Hills of the U.S. state of South Dakota. The road's northern terminus is U.S. Route 16 and U.S. Route 385 about south of Hill City. The road's southern terminus is U.S. Route 385 about east of Pringle, South Dakota, or north of Hot...
northward. The US 16A portion of the byway runs into Custer
Custer, South Dakota
Custer is a city in Custer County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 2,067 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Custer County.-History:...
, where the byway becomes part of SD 89
South Dakota Highway 89
South Dakota Highway 89 is a state highway in southwest South Dakota. The highway is long and runs from U.S. Route 18 near Minnekahta to South Dakota Highway 87 in Custer State Park. SD 89 is co-signed with U.S. Route 385 from Pringle to Custer...
and heads north. This portion of the byway meets the SD 87 portion in the northwest corner of Custer State Park. The byway then follows SD 87 to its intersection with US 16
U.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....
and US 385, where it becomes part of the nearby SD 244
South Dakota Highway 244
South Dakota Highway 244 is a short state highway located entirely within Pennington County, South Dakota which provides access to Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Highway 244 runs generally east–west between its eastern terminus at US 16A near Keystone and its western terminus at US 16/US...
. The byway follows SD 244 westward into the Mount Rushmore National Memorial, where it meets up with US 16A.
History
Most of the roads which make up the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway were proposed by Peter NorbeckPeter Norbeck
Peter Norbeck served as the ninth Governor of South Dakota, and as a United States Senator. Norbeck was the first Governor of South Dakota to have been born within the borders of the state.-Biography:...
when he was a U.S. Senator. Norbeck's first major proposal was the Needles Highway, which comprises the SD 87 portion of the byway and cuts through the Needles
Needles (Black Hills)
The Needles of the Black Hills of South Dakota are a region of fantastically eroded granite pillars, towers, and spires. Popular with rock climbers and tourists alike, the Needles are accessed from the Needles Highway, which is a part of Sylvan Lake Road...
. Though engineers of the time said a highway could not be built in the Needles, the highway still came into existence. Norbeck also proposed the Iron Mountain Road, the US 16A section of the byway. The byway was established on September 23, 1996, and named in honor of Norbeck.