When Stephen T. Mather became the first director of the National Park Service in 1916, he envisioned a master scenic boulevard that would connect the visual wonders of the West. By the time the route was chosen and dedicated, there were 12 parks included in what was called the National Park-to-Park Highway. Even though the idea was little more than lines on a map at the time, Mather’s vision eventually brought the splendor of America within reach of the traveling public.
