Pigtails to Rushmore
Daniel Milks
Owner of My XO Adventures, Traveler and occasional writer.
The Pigtail Bridges are located at the most northern point of Iron Mountain Road (16A), which terminates just before Mount Rushmore. Completed in 1930, Iron Mountain Road was built with the sole purpose of maximizing the enjoyment of visitors with the ever-popular automobile. C.C. Gideon, or “C.C.” as he was known is the engineer and Peter Norbeck is the visionary. When construction began on Mount Rushmore in 1927, there was a need to connect Custer State Park in the South, with Rushmore to the north. When funds were made available, the idea was to bypass the hills and construct a road that took a more direct approach. This would have been less costly, easier to maintain, and faster to travel.
Peter Norbeck objected and with his foresight, he pushed through what became one of the most sought-after roads to travel in the United States. The automobile had a great influence on construction and design. You might think well of course it did, but let’s take a look at why. In 1900 there were 8,000 automobiles on the road, by 1910 that increased to 350,000. As mass production and costs decreased that number jumped to 7.5 million in 1920. The middle class was increasing, and so was their desire for recreation. The automobile would take them there. We were becoming a Nation of automobiles.
Norbeck had a knack for long-term visionary planning. His rejection of the initial plans proved correct, and Iron Mountain Road started to become a reality. The idea was to maximize the experience visitors would have, especially traveling from South to North. Measures were taken to ensure the path would highlight the beautiful vistas while doing as little harm to the environment as possible. The road itself was to be an automobile owner’s playground.
Iron Mountain Road boasts 17 miles, 314 curves, 14 switchbacks, 3 pigtails, 2 tunnels, 4 presidents, and 2 splits. Wow! It should be mentioned that the tunnels leading to Mount Rushmore were perfectly aligned so as you enter, Mount Rushmore is framed majestically at the far end. It teases visitors the entire way, building excitement for the participants. The Pigtail Bridges compliment the road by solving a problem and providing an exciting corkscrew route down the mountain. The route reached a point that was very steep, and a solution was needed that switchbacks couldn’t easily solve. This led to the idea of the Pigtail Bridges which at the time were rare, but not unheard of. The bridges act like elevators, going up or down depending on the direction. Locally harvested pine would be used in its construction, and great pains have been taken since to preserve its place on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Pigtail Bridges provide a whimsical ride down the mountain before reaching Mount Rushmore. Iron Mountain Road in its entirety draws visitors far and wide. Most notably, the Motorcycle Rally Riders zoom through this area in the first weeks of August each year. Car enthusiasts travel to the area to experience a road not made primarily with function, but form.
My XO Adventures takes visitors along this route each day, stopping to take in the views and talk about the history behind the construction and the people that made it possible. It’s yet another example of Peter Norbeck’s vision of bringing visitors to the Black Hills in a delightful way. #HIFromSD #myxoadventures #blackhillsandbeyond #visitrapidcity #pigtailbridges
