The Historic Columbia River Highway, tucked along the bluffs above the Columbia River, was the first scenic highway in the United States. It was built in the early 1900s by engineers and architects who sought to provide recreational automobile travelers access to the area's beauty spots. In less than twenty years, a new highway was needed to handle larger automobiles and increasing commercial traffic on the winding, narrow route. Sections of the old highway were soon bypassed as Interstate 84 replaced the King of Roads. Renewed interest in the historic highway emerged, and restoration efforts began in 1986 to restore and unearth sections of this National Historic Landmark. Several scenic stretches are now accessible by automobile, foot, and bicycle, and this is one of the only sections that has remained open to traffic since its completion in 1922.