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Ptarmigan Tunnel
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
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Location	Glacier National Park, Glacier County, Montana, USA
Nearest city	West Glacier, Montana
Coordinates	48°50′57″N 113°42′28″W / 48.84917°N 113.70778°W / 48.84917; -113.70778
Built	1930
Architect	Ole Westman
MPS	Glacier National Park MRA
NRHP reference No.	86000360
Added to NRHP	February 14, 1986

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.

References

1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
2. "Ptarmigan Tunnel". List of Classified Structures. National Park Service. November 7, 2008.

See also

• Ptarmigan Lake
• Burro Schmidt Tunnel

v t e National Register of Historic Places in Glacier County, Montana
National Historic Landmarks	Camp Disappointment Going-to-the-Sun Road Great Northern Railway Buildings
Historic districts	Belly River Ranger Station Historic District Cut Bank Municipal Airport and Army Air Force Base Cut Bank Ranger Station Historic District East Glacier Ranger Station Historic District Glacier National Park Tourist Trails-Inside Trail, South Circle, North Circle Many Glacier Hotel Historic District Rising Sun Auto Camp St. Mary Utility Area Historic District Sherburne Ranger Station Historic District Swiftcurrent Auto Camp Historic District Swiftcurrent Ranger Station Historic District
Historic properties	Babb-Piegan, Montana, Inspection Station Chief Mountain Border Station and Quarters Glacier County Courthouse Glacier Park Women's Club Goathaunt Bunkhouse Holy Family Mission Kootenai Creek Snowshoe Cabin Lee Creek Snowshoe Cabin Logan Pass Visitor Center Many Glacier Barn and Bunkhouse Many Glacier Campground Camptender's Cabin Morning Eagle Pass Creek Snowshoe Cabin Ptarmigan Tunnel Rising Wolf Roes Creek Campground Camptender's Cabin Saint Mary Ranger Station Saint Mary Visitor Center, Entrance Station and Checking Stations Slide Lake-Otatso Creek Patrol Cabin and Woodshed Sun Camp Fireguard Cabin Swanson Boathouse Two Medicine Campground Camptender's Cabin Two Medicine General Store
See also: National Register of Historic Places listings in Glacier County, Montana and List of National Historic Landmarks in Montana

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• Transportation buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places in Montana
• Tunnels on the National Register of Historic Places
• Transportation in Glacier County, Montana
• National Register of Historic Places in Glacier County, Montana
• 1930 establishments in Montana
• Pedestrian tunnels in the United States
• National Register of Historic Places in Glacier National Park
• Tunnels in Montana
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