07/21/2026
The American West has a rich and surprising automotive history — and a future built for speed.
To keep up with faster vehicles, the state of Colorado completed the "Million Dollar Highway" (modern-day U.S. 550) in 1924 and in 1927 the Mount Evans highway (Mount Blue Sky), which is still the highest continuously paved highway in North America.
The automobile helped open the West to exploration and tourism. In Wyoming, Montana, and North Dakota, cars became a way to experience the beauty of the landscape. Glacier National Park’s famous red “jammer” buses began operating in 1933 and still travel Going-to-the-Sun Road every year. Nearby, Marias Pass on U.S. 2 is the northernmost pass in the U.S. open to cars year-round.
Wyoming's rugged terrain challenged drivers in the Great Auto Race of 1908, when drivers went from New York to Paris. Later, the completion of the first transcontinental automobile road, the Lincoln Highway in 1913, opened the state to a tourism boom as people from all across the country came to view the mountains.
At EPA Region 8, we know automobiles matter to our communities, our economy, and our history. You can read about how EPA is involved with emission standards, import regulations and more at this link🔗➡️ https://www.epa.gov/vehicles-and-engines
