Aerial Lift Bridge
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Aerial Lift Bridge
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Aerial Lift Bridge in 2007
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| Location | Lake Avenue, Duluth, MN |
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| Coordinates | 46°46′44.5″N 92°5′33.9″W / 46.779028°N 92.092750°WCoordinates: 46°46′44.5″N 92°5′33.9″W / 46.779028°N 92.092750°W |
| Built | 1905, reconstructed in 1929 |
| Architect | Thomas F. McGilvray,; C.A.P. Turner |
| NRHP Reference # | 73002174 |
| Added to NRHP | May 22, 1973 |
The Aerial Lift Bridge (earlier known as the Aerial Bridge or Aerial Ferry Bridge) is a landmark in the port city of Duluth, Minnesota. The span began life in 1905 as the United States' first transporter bridge. (Only one other was ever constructed in the country). In 1929–30, the span was converted to a vertical lift bridge (also rather uncommon, although there are six such bridges along Ontario's Welland Canal), and continues to operate today. The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 22, 1973. The United States Army Corps of Engineers maintains a nearby maritime museum.
The bridge spans the Duluth Ship Canal, which was put through the miles-long sand spit named Minnesota Point (commonly referred to as Park Point by locals) in 1870–71. The natural mouth of the Saint Louis River is about seven miles (11 km) farther southeast, and is split between Minnesota and Wisconsin. Creating this gap in the tiny peninsula meant that residents who lived on the new island needed to have a way to get across. Several transportation methods were tried, though they were complicated by the weather. Ferries could work in the summer, but ice caused problems in colder months. A swinging footbridge was used, but was considered rather rickety and unsafe.
In 1892, a contest was held to find a solution. The winning design came from John Low Waddell, who drew up plans for a high-rise vertical lift bridge. The city of Duluth was eager to build the bridge, which would have been about 130 feet (40 m) wide. However, the War Department objected to the design, and the project was canceled before it could be built. Waddell's design went on to be built in Chicago, Illinois, as the slightly larger South Halsted Street Bridge (removed in 1932).
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