Million Dollar Highway
Colorado
The Million Dollar Highway is called that for a few reasons, most of which refer to its stunning, “million-dollar” views of the San Juan Mountains. Other theories include a million-dollar cost per mile for construction in the 1920s, the potential riches of the surrounding gold and silver mines, or simply the high cost of traveling such a dangerous and vertigo-inducing road
Theories for the Name: Million-Dollar Views: The primary theory is that the
nickname comes from the absolutely breathtaking, picturesque, and dramatic mountain scenery visible from the highway. Million-Dollar Construction Cost: Some sources suggest that the road was so difficult and costly to build in the 1920s that it was estimated to cost a million dollars per mile. Wealth of the Mines: Another theory is that the name refers to the rich gold and silver mines located near the highway in the Uray and Silverton areas, which were the reason the road was built. Vertigo and Danger: One tale suggests that an early traveler, overwhelmed by the steep drops and winding turns without guardrails, claimed he wouldn’t travel it again even if paid a million dollars.
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