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List of bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in Arizona facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Arizona is home to many amazing bridges and tunnels! Some of these old structures are so special that they are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of important places in the United States that are worth protecting because of their history or unique design.

These bridges and tunnels helped people travel across Arizona for many years. They show us how engineers and builders worked in the past. Let's explore some of these cool historic crossings!

Historic Bridges of Arizona

Arizona's landscape has many canyons and rivers. This means that building bridges was very important for connecting towns and allowing people to travel. Many of these bridges were built in the early 1900s. They used different designs to cross rivers and deep canyons.

Famous Suspension Bridges

Suspension bridges are known for their long main cables that hang between tall towers. These cables hold up the bridge deck.

  • Cameron Suspension Bridge
    • Built: 1911
    • Location: Cameron
    • Type: Suspension-truss hybrid
    • Why it's special: This bridge was a very important crossing over the Little Colorado River. It helped connect different parts of Arizona and was key for travel in the northern part of the state. It's a mix of a suspension bridge and a truss bridge.
  • McPhaul Suspension Bridge
    • Built: 1929
    • Location: Dome
    • Type: Warren pony truss
    • Why it's special: Even though it's called a suspension bridge, its main structure is a Warren pony truss. It was important for crossing the Gila River in western Arizona.
  • Verde River Sheep Bridge
    • Built: 1940, 1944
    • Location: Carefree
    • Type: Suspension
    • Why it's special: This unique bridge was built to help sheep herders move their flocks across the Verde River. It's a great example of how bridges were built for specific needs.

Strong Arch Bridges

Arch bridges use a curved structure to carry weight. They are very strong and can cross wide spaces.

  • Canyon Diablo Bridge
    • Built: 1914, 1915
    • Location: Winona
    • Type: Steel arch
    • Why it's special: This impressive steel arch bridge crosses the deep Canyon Diablo. It was a big challenge to build and shows the engineering skills of its time.
  • Ciénega Bridge
    • Built: 1920–1921
    • Location: Vail
    • Type: Open spandrel concrete arch
    • Why it's special: This concrete arch bridge has open spaces (spandrels) in its design, making it look lighter and more elegant. It's a beautiful example of concrete bridge building.
  • Navajo Bridge
    • Built: 1927-1929
    • Location: Lee's Ferry
    • Type: Spandrel-braced deck arch
    • Why it's special: This famous bridge crosses the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. It was the only bridge crossing the Colorado River for hundreds of miles when it was built. It made travel between Arizona and Utah much easier.
  • Old Trails Bridge
    • Built: 1915, 1916
    • Location: Topock
    • Type: Brace-ribbed through arch
    • Why it's special: This bridge crosses the Colorado River near the California border. It was part of the historic National Old Trails Road, which was an early cross-country highway.
  • Salt River Canyon Bridge
    • Built: 1934
    • Location: Carrizo
    • Type: Arch
    • Why it's special: This bridge crosses the dramatic Salt River Canyon. Its arch design fits well with the natural landscape.

Truss Bridges: Strong and Sturdy

Truss bridges use a framework of connected triangles to create a strong structure. This design helps distribute weight evenly.

  • Allentown Bridge
    • Built: 1923
    • Location: Houck
    • Type: Pratt deck truss
    • Why it's special: This bridge uses a "Pratt truss" design, which was very common for bridges in the early 20th century. It helped connect communities in eastern Arizona.
  • Gillespie Dam Highway Bridge
    • Built: 1926, 1927
    • Location: Gila Bend
    • Type: Camelback through truss
    • Why it's special: This bridge was built as part of the Gillespie Dam project. It has a unique "camelback" shape, which means the top chord of the truss is curved.
  • Ocean to Ocean Bridge
    • Built: 1914, 1915
    • Location: Yuma
    • Type: Through truss
    • Why it's special: This bridge was a key part of the "Ocean to Ocean Highway," one of the first roads that crossed the entire United States. It was very important for travel between Arizona and California.
  • Perkinsville Bridge
    • Built: 1921, 1936
    • Location: Ash Fork
    • Type: Pratt through truss
    • Why it's special: This bridge is another example of the strong Pratt truss design. It helped people cross the Verde River in a more remote part of the state.

Underpasses and Overpasses

Not all historic crossings are over rivers. Some go under or over roads and railways.

  • Douglas Underpass
    • Built: 1936
    • Location: Douglas
    • Type: Concrete slab
    • Why it's special: This underpass allowed traffic to go under a railway, making travel safer and smoother in the town of Douglas.
  • Gila Bend Overpass
    • Built: 1934
    • Location: Gila Bend
    • Type: Skewed steel deck girder
    • Why it's special: This overpass helped traffic cross over another road or railway, improving the flow of vehicles in Gila Bend.
  • Poland Tunnel
    • Built: 1904
    • Location: Poland
    • Type: Tunnel
    • Why it's special: This historic tunnel was part of a mining railway. It helped trains carry valuable minerals through the mountains.

Images for kids

  • Arizona - Alchesay Canyon Bridge - 2

    Alchesay Canyon Bridge

  • Black Gap bridge (Greenlee Co, AZ) from S 1

    Black Gap Bridge

  • Torilla Flat-Boulder Creek Bridge-1937-12

    1937 Boulder Creek Bridge

  • Clarkdale-Broadway Bridge-1917-2

    Broadway Bridge

  • Cedar creek bridge

    Cedar Canyon Bridge

  • Chevelon Creek Bridge

    Chevelon Creek Bridge

  • Miami, Az-Cordova Ave. Bridge-1918

    Cordova Ave. Bridge

  • Corduroy Creek Bridge, HAER AZ-27-7

    Corduroy Creek Bridge

  • Dead Indian Canyon Bridge

    Dead Indian Canyon Bridge

  • Devil's Canyon Bridge2 NRHP 88001681 Pinal County, AZ

    Devil's Canyon Bridge

  • Fish Creek Bridge

    Fish Creek Bridge

  • Gila Bend-Gila Bend Overpass-1933-3

    Gila Bend Overpass

  • Gila bridge, Black Hills Back Country Byway, from SE 1

    Gila River Bridge

  • Buckeye-Gillespie Dam Bridge-1927-3

    Gillespie Dam Highway Bridge

  • Buckeye-Hassayampa Bridge-1929-1

    Hassayampa River Bridge

  • Holbrook Bridge carrying State Route 77

    Holbrook Bridge

  • Miami, Az-Inspiration Ave. Bridge-1918

    Inspiration Avenue Bridge

  • Kelvin Bridge NRHP 88001646 Pinal County, AZ

    Kelvin Bridge

  • Miami, Az-Keystone Ave. Bridge-1918

    Keystone Avenue Bridge

  • Miami, Az-Miami Ave. Bridge-1918

    Miami Avenue Bridge

  • Midgley Bridge

    W. W. Midgley Bridge

  • Tempe-Bridge-1931

    1931 Tempe Bridge

  • Tortilla Flat-Mormon Flat Bridge-1924

    1924 Mormon Flat Bridge

  • Pumphouse Wash Bridge (deck)

    Queen Creek Bridge

  • Old Queen Creek Bridge

    Queen Creek Bridge

  • Superior-Queen Creek Bridge-Hwy 60 in Pinal County-1949

    Queen Creek Bridge

  • Miami, Az-Reppy Ave. Bridge-1921

    Reppy Avenue Bridge

  • 2016 Arizona Salt River bridge Rte 60

    Salt River Bridge

  • Joseph City-St. Joseph Bridge-1917-2x

    St. Joseph Bridge

  • Stone Avenue underpass (Tucson) from S 2

    Stone Avenue Underpass

  • Tempe Concrete Highway Arch Bridge (Tempe, Arizona)

    Tempe Concrete Arch Bridge

  • Winkelman, AZ old Gila bridge arch base from SW 1

    Winkelman Bridge

  • Winslow-Winslow Bridge-1925-2

    The Winslow Bridge

  • Winslow-Winslow Underpass-1925

    The Winslow Underpass

See also: List of bridges in Arizona
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List of bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in Arizona Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.