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

Colorado is home to many amazing bridges and tunnels! Some of these structures are so special that they are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important parts of history and are protected. Experts have studied Colorado's bridges and tunnels for many years to find the most historic ones. They looked at hundreds of structures built between 1959 and 1968 to see which ones deserved this special recognition.

Historic Bridges and Tunnels in Colorado

Colorado has many cool bridges and tunnels that are part of its history. Here are some of the most interesting ones you can find across the state:

Bridges that Cross Rivers and Canyons

19th Street Bridge

The 19th Street Bridge was built in 1888 in Denver. It's a "Pratt Through Truss" bridge, which means it has a special design with crisscrossing metal beams above the road. This bridge helped people get around Denver over 130 years ago!

Arkansas River Bridge

Built in 1937, the Arkansas River Bridge is located near Buena Vista. It's a "Pratt Deck Truss" bridge. This design means the road sits on top of the truss structure, making it look a bit different from the 19th Street Bridge.

Avondale Bridge

The Avondale Bridge was built in 1913 in Avondale. It's a "Luten Arch" bridge, which is a type of concrete arch bridge. These bridges are known for their strong, curved shapes.

Big Thompson River Bridges

Near Loveland, you can find two historic bridges over the Big Thompson River: Big Thompson River Bridge III and Big Thompson River Bridge IV. Both were listed in 2002 and are "Camelback pony truss" bridges. This type of bridge has a top chord that looks like a camel's hump!

Black Squirrel Creek Bridge

The Black Squirrel Creek Bridge is near Falcon. It's a "Parker through truss" bridge, which is a strong design often used for longer spans. It was listed as historic in 2002.

Boulder Creek Bridge

In Boulder, the Boulder Creek Bridge was built in 1953. It's made of "Concrete slab and girder," a common and sturdy way to build bridges.

Bridge over Burro Canon

Near Madrid, the Bridge over Burro Canon was built in 1936. This bridge is special because it's a "Stone Multiplate Deck Arch," meaning it's made of stone and has a curved arch shape.

Bridge over Fountain Creek

The Bridge over Fountain Creek in Manitou Springs was built in 1932. It's an "Open Spandrel Deck Arch," which means you can see through the arch structure underneath the road.

Browns's Canyon Bridge

The Browns's Canyon Bridge near Salida was built in 1908. It's another example of a "Concrete slab and girder" bridge, showing how durable this type of construction is.

Cherry Creek Bridge

Near Franktown, the Cherry Creek Bridge was listed in 2002. It's a "Two-rib open-spandrel arch," similar to the Fountain Creek Bridge but with two main arch ribs.

Colorado River Bridge

The Colorado River Bridge near De Beque is a "Parker through truss" bridge. It was recognized as historic in 2002.

Costilla Crossing Bridge

Built in 1892, the Costilla Crossing Bridge near Antonito is a "Thatcher Through Truss." This is an older type of truss bridge design.

Cottonwood Creek Bridge

In Colorado Springs, the Cottonwood Creek Bridge was built in 1923. It's a "cantilevered concrete girder" bridge, which means parts of it extend out like a diving board.

D & RG Narrow Gauge Trestle

The D & RG Narrow Gauge Trestle near Cimarron was built around 1880. It's a "Pratt truss" design and was part of a narrow-gauge railroad, which used smaller tracks than regular trains.

Dolores River Bridge

The Dolores River Bridge near Bedrock is a "Pennsylvania through truss" bridge. This type of truss is known for its complex and strong design.

Dotsero Bridge

The Dotsero Bridge near Dotsero is another "Parker through truss" bridge, listed in 2002.

Douglas Crossing Bridge

Built in 1936 near Granada, the Douglas Crossing Bridge is a "Stone Ashlar Filled Arch." This means it's a stone arch bridge with the space above the arch filled in.

Eagle River Bridge

The Eagle River Bridge in Eagle was built in 1933 and is a "Parker through truss" bridge.

F Street Bridge

The F Street Bridge in Salida was built in 1907. It's a "Luten Arch" bridge, similar to the Avondale Bridge.

Fruita Bridge

The Fruita Bridge near Fruita was built in 1906. It's a "Parker Through Truss" bridge, a very common and strong design for its time.

Granada Bridge

The Granada Bridge near Granada is a "Steel I-beam stringer" bridge, a simpler design where steel beams support the road.

Great Western Sugar Company Effluent Flume and Bridge

This unique structure in Fort Collins, Colorado was listed in 2014. It's a "Suspension bridge," which means the road hangs from cables stretched between towers.

Gunnison River Bridges

In Gunnison, there are two historic "Pratt through truss" bridges over the Gunnison River: Gunnison River Bridge I and Gunnison River Bridge II. Both were listed in 2002.

Hay's Ranch Bridge

The Hay's Ranch Bridge near Meeker was built in 1900. It's a "Pratt Pony Truss," a type of truss bridge where the top of the truss is not as tall as the roadway.

Huerfano Bridge

The Huerfano Bridge near Boone was built in 1921. It's a "Filled Spandrel Arch," similar to the Douglas Crossing Bridge, where the space above the arch is filled in.

Labo Del Rio Bridge

Built in 1913 near Arboles, the Labo Del Rio Bridge is a "Pratt through truss."

Little Thompson River Bridge

Near Berthoud, the Little Thompson River Bridge is a "Camelback pony truss," similar to the Big Thompson River bridges.

Main Street Bridge

The Main Street Bridge in Florence is a "Spandrel arch" bridge, listed in 2002.

Maitland Arroyo Bridge

Near Walsenburg, the Maitland Arroyo Bridge is a "Timber stringer" bridge, meaning it uses wooden beams to support the road.

Manitou Springs Bridges

The Manitou Springs Bridges in Manitou Springs were built in 1906 and 1907. They are "Stone arch" bridges, known for their classic and durable design.

Maroon Creek Bridge

The Maroon Creek Bridge near Aspen was built in 1888 and updated in 1929. It's a "Multi-span Trestle Bridge," which means it has many supports holding up the long structure.

Miner Street Bridge

In Idaho Springs, the Miner Street Bridge was built in 1901. It's a "Skewed Pratt Pony Truss," meaning the bridge crosses the creek at an angle.

Morley Bridge

The Morley Bridge near Romley was built in 1881. It's a "Pratt deck truss," where the road is on top of the truss structure.

North St. Vrain Creek Bridge

Near Lyons, the North St. Vrain Creek Bridge is a "Concrete rigid frame" bridge, a modern design where the supports and deck are built as one strong unit.

Plum Bush Creek Bridges

Near Last Chance, you'll find the Plum Bush Creek Bridge and the West Plum Bush Creek Bridge. Both are "Concrete rigid frame" bridges, recognized for their design in 2002.

Portland Bridge

The Portland Bridge near Portland was built in 1926. It's a "Pratt Semi-deck Truss."

Prowers Bridge

The Prowers Bridge near Prowers was built in stages between 1902 and 1909. It combines "Camelback & Pratt Through" truss designs.

Rainbow Arch Bridge

The Rainbow Arch Bridge in Fort Morgan was built in 1923. It's a "Fixed Rainbow (Marsh) Arch," named for its distinctive rainbow shape.

Red Cliff Bridge

The Red Cliff Bridge near Red Cliff was built in 1940. It's a "Deck Arch Bridge," where the road is supported by an arch below.

Rifle Bridge

The Rifle Bridge near Rifle was built in 1909. It's a "Pennsylvania/Parker Truss," combining elements of two strong truss designs.

Rio Grande Railroad Viaduct

The Rio Grande Railroad Viaduct in Florence was built in 1931. It's a "Cantilevered deck girder" bridge, designed to support heavy trains.

Rito Seco Creek Culvert

Near San Luis, the Rito Seco Creek Culvert was built in 1936. It's a "Multiplate arch," a type of arch made from curved metal plates.

Rouch Gulch Bridge

The Rouch Gulch Bridge near Swissvale was built in 1934. It's a "Concrete spandrel arch," similar to other arch bridges but made of concrete.

Royal Gorge Bridge and Incline Railway

The famous Royal Gorge Bridge and Incline Railway near Canon City was built in 1929. It's a "Suspension bridge," one of the highest in the world, hanging over the deep Royal Gorge.

San Luis Bridge

The San Luis Bridge near San Luis was built in 1911. It's an "Open Spandrel Arch," allowing views through its structure.

San Luis Southern Railway Trestle

Also known as the Rattlesnake Trestle, the San Luis Southern Railway Trestle near Blanca was built in 1910. It's a classic "Railroad Trestle" design.

Santa Fe Avenue Bridge

The Santa Fe Avenue Bridge in Pueblo is a "Pennsylvania through truss" bridge, listed in 2002.

Satank Bridge

The Satank Bridge near Carbondale was built in 1900. It's a "Pratt Through Truss."

Sevenmile Bridge

The Sevenmile Bridge near Creede was built in 1935. It's a "Pratt deck truss."

Sheely Bridge

The Sheely Bridge near Aspen was built in 1911. It's a "Pratt Through Truss."

Slate Creek Bridge

The Slate Creek Bridge near Slate Creek was built in 1924. It's a "Parker Pony truss."

South Canon Bridge

The South Canon Bridge near Glenwood Springs was built in 1914. It's a "Pennsylvania Through Truss."

South Platte River Bridges

There are two historic bridges over the South Platte River. One near Lake George was built in 1920 and is a "Standard-plan concrete deck and girder." The other, in Denver, was built in 1951 and is a "Girder-ribbed deck arch."

Spring Creek Bridge

The Spring Creek Bridge near Vona was built in 1929. It's a "Concrete Slab" bridge, a simple and strong design.

St. Charles Bridge

The St. Charles Bridge in Pueblo was built in 1924. It's a "Filled Spandrel Arch."

State Bridge

The State Bridge near State Bridge was built in 1890. It's a "Howe truss" bridge, an older wooden truss design.

Sutherland Bridge

The Sutherland Bridge near Del Norte was built in 1924. It's a "Warren Pony Truss."

Wheeler Bridge

The Wheeler Bridge near Del Norte was built in 1924. It's a "Howe Pony Truss."

Tunnels that Go Through Mountains

Alpine Tunnel Historic District

The Alpine Tunnel Historic District includes the famous Alpine Tunnel, built between 1879 and 1910. Located near Hancock, Pitkin, and Quartz, this tunnel was a huge engineering feat, allowing trains to cross the Rocky Mountains.

Argo Tunnel and Mill

The Argo Tunnel and Mill near Idaho Springs was built in 1893. It was an important tunnel for mining gold.

Gunnison Tunnel

The Gunnison Tunnel near Montrose was built between 1901 and 1909. It's an "Irrigation tunnel," meaning it was built to bring water to farms, which was a big deal for Colorado's agriculture.

Lebanon and Everett Mine Tunnels

The Lebanon and Everett Mine Tunnels near Silver Plume were built around 1870. These tunnels were part of the historic mining operations in Colorado.

Images for kids

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  14th Street Viaduct

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  Black Bridge

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  Broadway Bridge

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  Commercial Street Bridge

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  Delta Bridge

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  Elson Bridge

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  Fifth Street Bridge

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  Four Mile Bridge

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  Hortense Bridge

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  Hotchkiss Bridge

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  Manzanola Bridge

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  Roubideau Bridge

See also

• List of bridges documented by the Historic American Engineering Record in Colorado
• List of tunnels documented by the Historic American Engineering Record in Colorado
• Bibliography of Colorado
• Geography of Colorado
• History of Colorado
• Index of Colorado-related articles
• List of Colorado-related lists
• Outline of Colorado