Embedded Files
100 years of US routes: 1926-2026
Endpoints of
1926-1957
North: Jackson Lake Jct. WY
South: Rock Springs, WY
1957-1981
North: Moran Jct. WY
South: Rock Springs, WY
US 187 was approximately 207 miles in total length. Want historic mileages? Our handy reference book includes the mileages that were published in all 13 of AASHO/AASHTO's historic route logs (spanning the years 1927 to 1989).
c. 1927, Rand McNally
Rock Springs
US 187 was among the original 1926 routes, numbered as a branch of US 87W. The south end of US 187 was always in Rock Springs, on Elk Street, at its junction with Bridger Street/Center Street (which carried either US 30 or Business 30):
c. 1968, USGS
The following image (from an old postcard) was taken when US 187 was still in existence. The view was looking east on Center Street; the US 187 designation began to the left on Elk Street:
Those sign panels were for northbound and eastbound traffic. This more-recent photo was taken from the same intersection, looking roughly the same direction, except it shows the sign panels for eastbound and southbound traffic. The truck was about to enter the former south beginning of US 187:
Sanderson, Mar. 2001
(detail)
(detail)
This photo was looking north on Elk. The cross street is the main drag through town: former US 30, and modern Business Loop I-80. The cars stopped at the light were about to enter what was once the south beginning of US 187:
Sanderson, Mar. 2001
(detail)
That was a bit misleading, because it implies that Elk is US 191, but that is actually not the case until the north side of I-80 (which is about a mile ahead). Technically, that segment of Elk is unsigned Spur US 191.
Moran Junction
Although the north end of US 187 was always at an intersection known as "Moran" or "Moran Junction", the specific location of that intersection was formerly about five miles to the north and west of the current junction. Today, highway traffic coming north from Jackson goes through Moran Jct. (on the right side of this map)...
c. 2011, National Park Service
...but prior to 1957, highway traffic used what is now known as "Teton Park Road", and the highway intersection was at what is now called "Jackson Lake Jct" (towards the top of the map). However, today's "Jackson Lake Jct." was referred to as "Moran Jct." up until the time that the current junction was established:
c. 1937, Rand McNally
By the time of this next map, the US 89 designation had been extended through the area, but the road through "Elk" was still not paved, and there was nothing at the location of today's Moran Jct. except for the Buffalo Ranger Station:
c. 1947, Gousha
Within a few more years, the US 26 designation had been added to the mix, but highway traffic was still using the original road past Jenny Lake:
c. 1951, Gousha
This photo was taken at Jackson Lake Jct. (nee Moran Jct.) from the perspective of what was originally northbound US 87W, but which later became US 287 (and is now US 89 and US 191 as well). US 187 began to the left:
Elbert, Jul. 2005
The photo below shows that same sign, but from the perspective of a driver at the original north end of US 187:
Elbert, Jul. 2005
That was the original "Moran Jct", but note that drivers looking for Moran Jct. today are directed to the east.
It was about 1957 when US 187 (which by then was also US 26 and US 89) was rerouted to the present highway along the east bank of the Snake River. After that, it met US 287 at the current Moran Jct. and ended there. The moniker "Moran Jct." was applied to the new intersection, and the old intersection was renamed to "Jackson Lake Jct". This photo (with part of the Teton Range is visible in the background) was taken at the modern junction:
Elbert, Jul. 2005
That was coming from Dubois on northbound US 287/westbound US 26 (straight ahead leads south to Jackson via southbound US 89 and US 191, but technically that should be "West" on US 26, not "South"). Straight ahead was also the north beginning of US 187 from the 1957 until 1981. For travelers turning to the right, no routes are posted until the far side of Yellowstone (although at the Colter Bay Visitor Center -- which is about a mile off the main highway -- there was a sign with the text "To US 89", but US 191/287 were not referenced). Also, there was no directional signage for a driver heading south there (such as the white pickup in the background). The photo below was looking the opposite direction -- north on what is now eastbound US 26/northbound US 89/US 191:
Elbert, Jul. 2005
US 26 continues ahead (with southbound US 287) over Togwotee Pass towards Dubois. Northbound US 89-191-287 goes left to Yellowstone's south entrance (although there were no more signs beyond that one). Pre-1981, things were the same at this junction, except US 187 ended here, and US 191 did not run through these parts. In 1981, US 187 was decommissioned, because US 191 was extended southward via an implied route through Yellowstone National Park, swallowing up the entirety of what had been US 187.
Research and/or image credits: Chris Elbert; Andy Field; Mike Roberson; Dale Sanderson; Michael Summa
Page originally created 2001;last updated May 4, 2025.
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