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ly followed what we know as U.S. Highway 2 today. It ran along
the northern lip of Montana following the Great Northern Rail-
way tracks across Montana's Hi-Line.
Formally called the Theodore Roosevelt International High-
way, "The Teddy" was more of a two-track trail through long
fields of gumbo than it was a true highway. This was not any-
thing close to resembling I-15, or Highway 2, or Highway 200…
or even the least-known gravel road in Montana today. No, the
road was a mess. You might appreciate the Teddy's road condi-
tions if you have ever driven through spring gumbo or had your
vehicle's undercarriage stuck on an obstacle in the road. To call
this a highway is like calling Montana winters "mild."
The Roosevelt Highway, though, became a cultural artery con-
necting small towns, farms, and ranches across a vast American
landscape that was pulsing with cowboys and Indians, prospec-
tors and homesteaders, and it echoed with whispers of history
and the promise of adventure for those travelers who dared to
make the trip. From the rolling hills in the eastern United States
to the soaring mountains of the west (and everything in be-
tween), the Roosevelt Highway wasn't just a path to somewhere;
it was a chance to experience the heart of America.
The spark that became the fire that started the Roosevelt
Highway was first struck in Duluth, Minnesota, not long after
Theodore Roosevelt died in 1909. The Chamber of Commerce
