#Mississippi July 17
We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.
July 2026 several of us are going to take on theĀ 30-Day America at 250 Coach4aday Challenge. Each day we share something about Americaās unique and quirky history. It can be about a place, an event, or person.Ā Todayās story focuses on early crossings of the MISSISSIPPI River by a bridge.
Using a rough estimate, the Mississippi River serves as a natural dividing line for nearly half of America’s landmass. Yet until the 1850s, there wasn’t a single bridge spanning the river, making ferries and boats the only way to cross this vast waterway. The eventual construction of bridges across the Mississippi helped unite the growing nation by connecting people, commerce, and the expanding American frontier.
Day 17-First Bridges over the Mississippi River
Completed in 1855, the Hennepin Avenue Toll Bridge in Minneapolis became the first bridge to span the Mississippi River. The suspension bridge connected the communities of St. Anthony and Minneapolis, making travel and commerce much easier across one of America’s greatest rivers. Its success marked a turning point in westward expansion, proving that the mighty Mississippi could be crossed by bridge rather than only by ferry or boat.
A related milestone is the first railroad bridge across the Mississippi, which opened in 1856 between Rock Island, Illinois, and Davenport, Iowa. That bridge became famous because a steamboat, the Effie Afton, struck it shortly after it opened, leading to a court case in which Abraham Lincoln helped defend the railroad.
Recent Comments