U.S. Route 491 facts for kids

U.S. Route 491 is a long U.S. Highway that travels through three states: Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico. It runs from north to south, connecting different towns and natural areas. This highway was once known by a different name, U.S. Route 666, which some people called the "Devil's Highway."

What is U.S. Route 491?

U.S. Route 491 is an important road that helps people travel across the western United States. It is part of a big network of highways that connect cities and towns all over the country. These roads are managed by the states they pass through, but they are part of a national system.

Where Does US 491 Go?

The highway starts in Monticello, Utah, a town known for its beautiful mountain views. From there, it heads south into Colorado. In Colorado, it passes near Mesa Verde National Park, a famous place with ancient cliff dwellings built by the Pueblo people. It also goes by Ute Mountain, which is a sacred mountain for the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe.

After Colorado, US 491 continues into New Mexico. Here, it travels through the Navajo Nation, the largest Native American reservation in the United States. It passes near Shiprock, a very special and sacred rock formation for the Navajo people. The highway ends in Gallup, New Mexico, a city known for its rich Native American culture and history.

The Story of Route 666

For many years, this highway was known as U.S. Route 666. This number was given to it because of how the U.S. highway system is set up. Main highways usually have one or two digits, like US 40 or US 66. Roads that branch off these main highways often get three digits. For example, a road branching off US 60 might be US 660.

Why the Name Changed

The number 666 is sometimes called the "Number of the Beast" in some religious beliefs. Because of this, many people felt uncomfortable driving on a road with that number. There were also some stories about bad luck or strange events happening on the road, which added to the concerns. People worried about the name, and it caused a lot of discussion.

Because of these concerns, and to make travelers feel more comfortable, the name of the highway was officially changed. In 2003, it was renamed U.S. Route 491. The new number was chosen to be similar to other nearby highways, like US 191, and to remove the old, unsettling association. This change helped to make the road feel safer and more welcoming for everyone.

Images for kids

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  Gallup, New Mexico

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  Visitors touring Mesa Verde National Park, along US 491

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  Old and new route number at the intersection with US 191 in Monticello

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  Shiprock, a sacred mountain to the Navajo people, is accessed via US 491

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  Ute Mountain, in southwest Colorado, is the sacred mountain, and namesake of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe