The peak was named after Lori Piestewa, the first Native American woman to die in combat in the U.S. military.

Prior to this time, the freeway was known as the Squaw Peak Parkway, a name considered offensive by Native Americans.

[2] Rapid growth and increased traffic demand on the east side of Metro Phoenix made the Piestewa Freeway necessary.

[6] That same year, U.S. Army specialist and Arizona native Lori Piestewa was killed in the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

According to U.S. Army records, Piestewa was the first known Native American woman to be killed on foreign soil while serving in combat for the military.

[citation needed] The original five miles (8 km) of the freeway between McDowell Road and Glendale Avenue were constructed by the city of Phoenix (as the Squaw Peak Parkway) between 1986 and 1991.

[8] During much of the road's early days in the 1990s, several decorative pots were mounted on top of the noise mitigation walls, which were a source of controversy at the time of their installation due to cost and aesthetics.

[14] In March 2016, a new interchange from the road's existing terminus at Loop 101 to an intersection with Black Mountain Boulevard opened.