Stone Arch Bridge (Minneapolis)
| Stone Arch Bridge | |
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A view of the Stone Arch Bridge from near river level.
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| Coordinates | 44°58′51″N 93°15′13″W / 44.98083°N 93.25361°WCoordinates: 44°58′51″N 93°15′13″W / 44.98083°N 93.25361°W |
| 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 |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | 21 stone arch spans, plus one steel-deck truss span |
| Total length | 2100 feet (640 meters) |
| Width | 28 feet (8.5 meters) |
| Longest span | 197.5 feet (60.2 meters) (channel span) |
| Clearance below | 24.4 feet (7.4 meters) |
| History | |
| Opened | 1883 |
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Stone Arch Bridge
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| Location | Minneapolis, MN |
| Part of | St. Anthony Falls Historic District (#71000438 ) |
| Added to NRHP | March 11, 1971 |
Bridges over the Mississippi in Minneapolis/St. Paul. Stone Arch Bridge is about center of this image, between 3rd Ave. Bridge and I-35W
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The Stone Arch Bridge is a former railroad bridge crossing the Mississippi River at Saint Anthony Falls in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the only arched bridge made of stone on the entire length of Mississippi River, and also the second oldest next to Eads Bridge. The bridge was built to connect the railway system to the new Union Depot, which at that time was planned to be built between Hennepin Avenue and Nicollet Avenue. The bridge was completed on 1883, costing an amazing sum of $650,000 during the time ($16.7 million today). 117 Portland Avenue is the general address of the historic complex.
For a time, the bridge was dubbed "Hill's Folly" until the value of Hill's new bridge as a passenger rail link became evident.
Positioned between the 3rd Avenue Bridge and the I-35W Saint Anthony Falls Bridge, the Stone Arch Bridge was built in 1883 by railroad tycoon James J. Hill for his Great Northern Railway, and accessed the former passenger station located about a mile to the west, on the west bank of the river. The structure is now used as a pedestrian and bicycle bridge. It is an 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).
In 1880, Minneapolis was a flourishing business city with major commerce mostly located on the west bank of the Mississippi River, while smaller, up-and-coming businesses were on the east. With the merging of the Village of St. Anthony on the east side, Minneapolis continuously grew in population, and the Hennepin Avenue suspension bridge served as the sole thoroughfare for commuters and pedestrians. At that time, the Hennepin Avenue bridge was overused and in desperate need of upkeep. The city’s network of railroads, which was crucial for urbanization, was also located on the east side of the river. With the rapid increase in commercialization, Minneapolis businessmen sought a plan to accommodate the heavy flow of traffic, and immediately considered the railroad mogul James J. Hill for the task. The idea was to build a railroad depot, similar to the St. Paul Union Depot, along the intersections of Hennepin Avenue and Nicollet Avenue in downtown Minneapolis, which would also connect to the Manitoba Road tracks, eventually developing into the Great Northern Railway.
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