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Hurricane Deck, Missouri facts for kids

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Hurricane Deck
Hurricane Deck is located in Missouri
Hurricane Deck
Hurricane Deck
Location in Missouri
Country United States
State Missouri
County Camden

Hurricane Deck is a small community in Camden County, Missouri, United States. It's not a city with its own government, but rather an unincorporated community. You can find it right on the shores of the famous Lake of the Ozarks, making it a fun place for visitors.

What's in a Name? The Story of Hurricane Deck

This community has an interesting name, and there are two main ideas about where it came from!

One idea is that Hurricane Deck was named after a powerful tornado that hit the area a long time ago. Back then, some people in the local area used to call tornadoes "hurricanes."

Another idea comes from the world of boats. On old river steamships, the very top deck was often called a "Hurricane Deck." This was because the wind always blew strongly up there! Since Hurricane Deck is located on a high ridge overlooking the Lake of the Ozarks, this name might have seemed fitting.

The Famous Hurricane Deck Bridge

One of the most special landmarks near Hurricane Deck was the Hurricane Deck Bridge. This bridge carried Route 5 across the Osage Arm of the Lake of the Ozarks.

A Unique "Upside-Down" Design

The Hurricane Deck Bridge was finished in 1936. It was one of only three bridges in the Lake of the Ozarks area that had a unique "upside-down" design. This meant its main support structure, called a truss, was located below the road. This special design allowed people driving across the bridge to have amazing, clear views of the lake all around them!

The Hurricane Deck Bridge was quite long, with its main section stretching 462 feet. It also had supports, called piers, in the water. While its design was similar to the I-35W Mississippi River bridge that sadly collapsed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 2007, the Hurricane Deck Bridge was actually a bit longer in its main span.

Other Bridges of the Ozarks

The other two "upside-down" bridges in the area were the Grand Glaize Bridge and the Niangua Bridge. These bridges have since been taken down and replaced with newer, more common girder bridges. This makes the Hurricane Deck Bridge's history even more special, as it was a rare example of this unique design.

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