Stone Arch Bridge

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

**Stone Arch Bridge**
A view of the Stone Arch Bridge from near river level.
Carries	Pedestrian and bicycle lanes; formerly two tracks of the Great Northern Railway
Crosses	Mississippi River
Locale	Minneapolis, Minnesota
Maintained by	Minneapolis Park Board
ID number	27004
Design	21 stone arch spans, plus one steel-deck truss span
Longest span	197.5 feet (channel span)
Total length	2100 feet
Width	28 feet
Clearance below	24.4 feet
Opening date	1883
Coordinates	44°58′51″N, 93°15′13″W

The Stone Arch Bridge is a former railroad bridge crossing the Mississippi River near Saint Anthony Falls in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. The bridge was built in 1883 by railroad tycoon James J. Hill for his Great Northern Railroad, and accessed the former passenger station located about a mile to the west. It is now used as a pedestrian/bicycle bridge. It is a Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971 as a part of the Saint Anthony Falls Historic District, (District #71000438).

When it was in rail service, the bridge carried trains of many railroads to and from the Minneapolis station, including the Great Northern Railroad's Empire Builder. Amtrak's train of that same name is the only scheduled passenger train to serve Minnesota, but no longer crosses the bridge; its only stop in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area is at the Midway Station in St. Paul, about halfway between the downtown areas of the Twin Cities.

The bridge has been altered somewhat from its original appearance. When the lock and dam was built at Saint Anthony Falls, two of the arches were replaced with a truss so barges could pass through the locks. Later, in 1965, floodwaters undermined three of the piers and caused the bridge to sag. The bridge was repaired by strengthening the piers and reinforcing underneath two of the arches.

The bridge ceased to be used as a railroad bridge in 1978, and after a period of disuse, was later in the early 1990s to its present uses. The bike and walking trails across the bridge are integrated into the city's park and trail system. The most recent renovations--including indirect lighting--were completed in late 2005. The lighting was paid for by private donations.

During the summer months, the Stone Arch Bridge hosts numerous festivals in the area of St. Anthony Main and Historic Main Street. One of these festivals, Stone Arch Festival of the Arts, is on display every Father's Day weekend and features many local artists. The bridge offers views of the Minneapolis skyline, Pillsbury "A" Mill, the Mill City Museum, and many other places in the district. The few historic and not-so-historic restaurants in the area include Pracna on Main Historic Dining Saloon, Tuggs Tavern, Aster Cafe and VIC'S Dining.

1 See also
2 References
3 Image gallery: the Stone Arch Bridge
4 External links

[edit] See also

List of crossings of the Upper Mississippi River

[edit] References

Olsen, Byron D. (1998). Great Northern Railway 1945-1970 Photo Archive Volume 2. ISBN 1-882256-79-4
Costello, Mary Charlotte (2002). Climbing the Mississippi River Bridge by Bridge, Volume Two: Minnesota. Cambridge, MN: Adventure Publications. ISBN 0-9644518-2-4.