2009 Scenic Byway Award Winner - Interpretation

Telling the Story of the Sheyenne River Valley
Byway:	Sheyenne River Valley Scenic Byway
State: 	North Dakota

Interpretive Panels Tell Of The People And The Land
The Sheyenne River Valley Scenic Byway features a 330-foot-deep glacial meltwater trench through 
northeastern North Dakota – a captivating contrast to the State’s flat terrain. Interpretation on 
the byway showcases all six intrinsic values, promoting historic preservation as it tells the byway’s 
story of the relationship between people and the land.

Committee members visited ten national byways in seven States to research interpretive styles. A series 
of public meetings with local leaders and interested citizens, plus representatives from various 
government agencies, provided input. Twenty-six funding partners, including the National Scenic Byways 
Program, supported the forty interpretive panels and ten attraction kiosks that comprise the project. 
The panels span topics from Ice Age glaciers to early churches, and each panel is unique. A map indicates 
that panel’s location along the byway. Each exhibit is customized with a thematic background. Attraction 
kiosks also show a byway map; some include brochure holders, bulletin cases and registration boxes. All 
the signage and marketing components complement the project’s design standards. This provides a cohesive 
element that supports wayfinding and enhances the visitor experience.