Storm King Highway
Why it's listed
Storm King Highway, designated State Route 218, is a 21,000-foot road that wraps around Storm King Mountain and Crow's Nest in the Hudson Highlands of Orange County, New York. Built between 1916 and 1922, it runs from the Cornwall village line toward the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. The road was cut into the rock face rather than tunneled, and a stone rubble wall protects the river side. Grades never exceed 7 percent, and the road rises about 420 feet above the river. Surveyors worked suspended by ropes over the cliffs, the first contractors failed financially, and the John L. Hayes Construction Company completed the work with financial help from the Palisades Interstate Park Commission. The roadway was widened to 18 feet with concrete gutters. It shortened the trip between Newburgh and West Point by 22 miles. The nomination cites its engineering achievement and its role in Highlands transportation history, noting it remains largely unaltered.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the highway is significant for its engineering achievement and its contribution to the history of transportation in the Hudson Highlands. It cut a route through granite cliffs that had long interrupted travel between Cornwall and communities to the south. The road and its stone walls are said to be maintained in original condition.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 82001229, listed November 23, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | NY 218, Highlands |
|---|---|
| County | Orange County |
| Listed | November 23, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001229 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Architect / builder | Engineer F. Fenner (N.Y.S.D.O.T.); builder John L. Hayes Construction Co. of Yonkers, N.Y. |
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a roadway, as originally intended. Condition is listed as fair, and the form says the roadway and stone walls have not been significantly altered since construction. |
| Acreage | 11.6 |
| Coordinates | 41.43770, -73.99654 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 82001229.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7620135
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.