Camp Ripley Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Camp Ripley Bridge
|
|
The Camp Ripley Bridge from the southeast
|
|
 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Green Prairie & Ripley Townships, Minnesota |
|---|---|
| Nearest city | Little Falls, Minnesota |
| Built | 1930 |
| NRHP reference No. | 14001175 |
| Designated | January 21, 2015 |
The Camp Ripley Bridge, also known as Bridge 4969, is a special bridge in Morrison County, Minnesota. It's unique because it carries both a railroad track and a highway! This makes it a unified road–rail bridge. You can find it crossing the mighty Mississippi River at Camp Ripley.
This bridge was built in 1930. It was super important for Camp Ripley, which is a big training area for the Minnesota National Guard. Because it's the only bridge of its kind left over the Mississippi River, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2015.
Contents
What is the Camp Ripley Bridge?
The Camp Ripley Bridge is a one-of-a-kind structure. It lets both trains and cars use the same path to cross the Mississippi River. This type of bridge is called a road–rail bridge. It's also known by its official number, Bridge 4969.
The bridge is located in Morrison County, Minnesota. It connects Green Prairie and Ripley Townships. Its main job is to serve Camp Ripley, a major military training base.
Why is This Bridge Special?
What makes the Camp Ripley Bridge truly stand out is its design. It's the only bridge left over the Mississippi River that combines both road and rail traffic. This means it has a road for cars and trucks, and a separate track for trains, all on the same bridge structure. This design was more common in the past but is rare today.
Building the Bridge
The Camp Ripley Bridge was built a long time ago, in 1930. The Minneapolis Bridge Company was in charge of building it. They did a great job creating a strong bridge that could handle both trains and vehicles.
The main reason for building this bridge was to support Camp Ripley. Camp Ripley is a very important training ground for the Minnesota National Guard. The bridge made it much easier to move supplies, equipment, and people to and from the camp. It was a key connection for the camp's operations.
A Historic Landmark
Because of its unique design and importance, the Camp Ripley Bridge is now a historic landmark. On January 21, 2015, it was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places. This list includes places across the United States that are important to history. Being on this list helps protect the bridge and recognize its value. It reminds us of how bridges were built in the past and their role in connecting communities and supporting important places like Camp Ripley.
