The Yucca Theater & Water Tower =>
….A Bit Of Iowa In The Yellowstone River Valley!

….“ We pull off into a little town that could be in the middle of Iowa. The corn is growing high all around and the smell of fertilizer is heavy in the air.“
Hysham, MT. Although this town did not have “corn high all around and the smell of heavy fertilizer", the two lane road (Old US-10, which changes to Rt-311) leading to this town, was the best overall fit to the Narrator’s passages concerning their near accident.
….However, as stated previously, my search was incomplete, because: 1) The then new ~1965, interstate overlaid much of the first half of the old US 10/312 between Miles City, MT, and Bighorn, MT, and 2) Thus I might have somehow missed proper combination of clues in the older ~1968 roads Robert Pirsig may have use, leading up to the Montana Towns of Hathaway, Rosebud, Myers, Bighorn and Pompeys Pillar.
….My 1964 shows as Rt 113, the road which I took in 2002, as these towns’ principle highway, more recently named US 10/Rt-311 to Hysham, MT..
….My 1964 Rand-McNally map clearly shows, this would have been the only reasonable 1968 Non-Interstate, through-route from Miles City to Laurel MT, which is the next named town in ZMM.
….************** …
….Concerning The White Building in the /\ Above /\ Photo, the Hysham Chamber of Commerce says “ Located across the street from the museum is the Yucca Theatre and Manning House which is listed on the National Register of Historical Places. Built in 1931 by Dave and Jim Manning, the theater is an impressive example of mission style and the prominent historic landmark on Hysham’s main street.
….************** …

…DATE-LINE: ZMM ROUTE RESEARCH: July 27, 2021. by Henry Gurr.
(ChangesSinceRobertPirsig1968Trip), As Seen By HSG in 2002 & 2006.)
….************** …
AS SHOWN & DISCUSSED IN THE PREVIOUS 6 PHOTOS, THE ZMM TRAVEL NARRATIVE VERY WELL MAPS ONTO THE THEN EXISTING 1968 ROADS, ESPECIALLY OLD US-10 !!
….************** …
AND THERE IS EVERY REASON TO BELIEVE IN 1968, ROBERT PIRSIG WOULD HAVE (BY PRIOR TRAVELING THIS ROUTE) KNOWN HOW TO FOLLOW THE CONVENIENT PARTS OF OLD US-10, WHERE IT STILL EXISTED.
….After all he for ~2 years traveled this way from his home town of Minneapolis, MN, to his English Teaching at Montana State University, Bozeman, MT.
…He would have sought => Secondary roads are preferred. … We want to make good time, but for us now this is measured with emphasis on “good” rather than “time” …
….************** …
THUS => Taken As Factual, For Robert Pirsig 1968 Traveling West From Miles City, MT =>
….We Can Conclude, ALL Of The ZMM Travel Narrative, =>
..A) WELL FITS => What was US-10 back in 1968.
..B) WELL FITS => Robert Pirsig’s ZMM Book Passage Says =>”
….We are just vacationing. Secondary roads are preferred. Paved county roads are the best, state highways are next. Freeways are the worst. We want to make good time, but for us now this is measured with emphasis on “good” rather than “time” and when you make that shift in emphasis the whole approach changes. Twisting hilly roads are long in terms of seconds but are much more enjoyable on a cycle where you bank into turns.

..C) Old Hwy-10 well fits with ZMM Emphasis On “Good,” Highway, As May Experienced Traveling West After Forsyth, MT. This is despite fact that Old Hwy-10, At Many Places Is Not Far From, Or Is Along Frontages To I-94.
..D) US-10 back in 1968 (original or new named), would have been far easier to find on then existing maps & roads.
..E) What portions of Old US 10, still exist, are the only reasonable Non-Interstate way to=> Go West From Miles City, MT to Laurel, MT the two towns mentioned in ZMM Narrative.
..F) The pavement of Old US 10 does still exists in many places, but through the years, some short sections have been re-located, interchanges modified, or name changes, making it somewhat harder to find on current day maps, and physical landscape.
..G) BUT STILL WORTH THE EFFORT, for the ZMM Enthusiast to find & travel it!
….************** …

CONTINUED NEXT PHOTO =>
….Going West From Miles City, MT. To Laurel. MT: WHERE Are The Non-Interstate Highways?


*************************
(Photo = 105-0547c ...... ZMM Page = 097 ...... WayPt = 106w)