National Register of Historic Places

Ptarmigan Tunnel

West Glacier, Flathead County, Montana
Listed
February 14, 1986
Type
Structure
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
86000360

About this property

The Ptarmigan Tunnel was built in 1930 through the Ptarmigan Wall at an elevation of 7,200 feet (2,200 m) in Glacier National Park, near Many Glacier, in Montana, US. The 250-foot (76 m) manmade tunnel allows hikers to avoid a strenuous climb over very steep terrain between Many Glacier and the Belly River valley. Two opposing steel jackhammers drilling from either side of the tunnel and a series of ten-hole rounds of dynamite gradually broke through the mountain in less than three months. A wide area, originally for guide and tourist horses, extends from each portal with a masonry retaining wall. Natural rock lines the interior walls. Heavy iron doors were hung across the tunnel adits during the summer of 1975. They remain open from mid-July until October 1, weather permitting. Designed by Ole Westman, this trail tunnel embodies exceptional qualities of landscape architecture and engineering in a pedestrian-scaled tunnel, cut through a sheer mountain wall.

Location

West Glacier, Flathead County, Montana
48.85362, -113.70763

Categories

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTUREENGINEERINGTRANSPORTATION
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Swiftcurrent Auto Camp Historic District
Listed
4.1 mi
Many Glacier Campground Camptender's Cabin
Industrial
4.1 mi
Swiftcurrent Ranger Station Historic District
Industrial
4.2 mi
Many Glacier Hotel Historic District
Listed
4.5 mi
Many Glacier Barn and Bunkhouse
Industrial
4.7 mi

Questions about this property

When was Ptarmigan Tunnel listed on the National Register?

Ptarmigan Tunnel was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 14, 1986.

What type of historic resource is Ptarmigan Tunnel?

Ptarmigan Tunnel is classified as a structure in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Ptarmigan Tunnel?

The period of significance for Ptarmigan Tunnel is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Ptarmigan Tunnel?

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