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

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Kansas is home to many old and important bridges and tunnels. These structures are more than just ways to cross rivers or go through hills; they are also a big part of the state's history. Many of these special bridges and tunnels are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are recognized for their historical importance and unique design.

These historic structures show us how people built things in the past. They tell stories about how towns grew and how people traveled across Kansas long ago. From strong stone arches to clever metal trusses, each bridge has its own story.

What Makes a Bridge Historic?

A bridge becomes historic when it's old and has special meaning. This could be because it's a great example of a certain building style, or because it played an important role in local history. When a bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it means it's protected and its history is celebrated.

Different Types of Historic Bridges

Kansas has many different kinds of old bridges. Each type was built using different engineering ideas to be strong and last a long time.

Truss Bridges

Truss bridges are built with a framework of triangles. This shape makes them very strong and able to carry heavy loads. Many old truss bridges in Kansas were built in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

  • The Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Pratt Truss Bridge was built in 1909 near Melvern. A Pratt truss uses diagonal pieces that slant towards the center of the bridge.
  • The Elk Falls Pratt Truss Bridge from 1892-1893 is another great example. It's located in Elk Falls.
  • The Clear Creek Camel Truss Bridge in Baileyville (built 1930) has a unique "camelback" shape, which means the top part of the truss curves like a camel's hump.
  • The Republican River Pegram Truss near Concordia (built 1893) is a special type of truss designed by an engineer named George H. Pegram.

Stone Arch Bridges

Stone arch bridges are some of the oldest and most beautiful bridges. They are built with carefully cut stones that fit together to form a strong arch. These bridges often look like something out of a fairy tale!

  • The Clements Stone Arch Bridge in Clements was built way back in 1886. It's one of the most famous stone arch bridges in Kansas.
  • The Esch's Spur Bridge near Dexter, built around 1915, is another lovely example of a stone arch bridge.
  • The Morton County WPA Bridge (1936) near Richfield was built during the Great Depression by the Works Progress Administration (WPA), a government program that created jobs.

Concrete Bridges

As technology advanced, builders started using concrete more often. Concrete bridges can be very strong and can take on many different shapes.

  • The Amelia Park Bridge (1914) in Antelope is an early concrete bridge.
  • The Bucher Bridge (1905) near Rock is a reinforced concrete arch bridge, meaning it has steel bars inside the concrete for extra strength.
  • The John Mack Bridge in Wichita, built in 1930-1931, is a "rainbow" reinforced concrete bridge. It has a beautiful arch shape that looks like a rainbow.

Other Unique Bridges

Some bridges have very specific designs that make them stand out.

  • The Hobbs Creek Truss Leg Bedstead Bridge (1904) near Gypsum is a unique type of bridge that looks a bit like an old bed frame.
  • The Lyon Creek Rainbow Arch (1925) near Wreford is another "rainbow" bridge, known for its distinctive arch shape.
  • The County Line Bowstring (1876) near Hollis and Wayne is a bowstring truss, which has a curved top chord and a straight bottom chord, resembling a bow and arrow.

Bridges That Are No Longer There

Sometimes, even historic bridges can be removed for different reasons, like safety or new construction. However, their history is still remembered.

  • The Belvidere Medicine River Bridge (1913) in Belvidere was a reinforced concrete arch bridge that was removed in 2000.
  • The Schleichers Branch Stone Arch Bridge (around 1898-1900) near Humboldt was also removed in 2004.

These bridges, even if they are gone, remind us of the engineering and hard work of the past.

Images for kids

  • Amelia Park Bridge Marion Co Kansas wide view

    Amelia Park Bridge

  • Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Pratt Truss Bridge Kansas

    Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Pratt Truss Bridge

  • Battle Creek kingpost bridge from S 1

    Battle Creek King Post Truss Bridge

  • Barton Co Beaver Creek NE 50 Ave bridge from SW 1

    Beaver Creek Native Stone Bridge

  • Blacksmith Creek Bridge, Topeka, KS

    Blacksmith Creek Bridge

  • Barton County bridge 218 from SE 1

    Bridge No. 218-Off System Bridge

  • Barton County bridge 222 from SE 1

    Bridge No. 222-Off System Bridge

  • Barton Co bridge NE 60 Ave N of 210 Rd from SE 2

    Bridge No. 640-Federal Aid Highway System Bridge

  • Rainbow Curve Bridge 2006-07-03

    Brush Creek Bridge (Baxter Springs, Kansas)

  • Bucher 1

    Bucher Bridge

  • Bullfoot Creek Bridge Lincoln County, Kansas view of arch

    Bullfoot Creek Bridge

  • Cedar Creek Bridge View 1

    Cedar Creek Bridge (Elgin, Kansas)

  • Chapman Creek Pratt Truss Bridge

    Chapman Creek Pratt Truss Bridge

  • Chicken Creek Bridge - Lone Star KS - NRHP 90000298

    Chicken Creek Bridge

  • Clear Creek Camel Truss Bridge Baileyville Kansas Nemaha County

    Clear Creek Camel Truss Bridge

  • US-KS-ClementsStoneArchBridge-001

    Clements Stone Arch Bridge

  • Conroe Bridge 1 Geary County, Kansas

    Conroe Bridge

  • County Line Bowstring from SE

    County Line Bowstring

  • Creamery Bridge Osawatomie

    Creamery Bridge

  • Delaware RIver Parker Truss Bridge, Perry, KS

    Delaware River Parker Truss Bridge

  • Coyote Road x Delaware River bridge E truss from outside 1

    Delaware River Warren Truss Bridge

  • E Fork Wolf Creek bridge, 290 Dr, from W 2

    East Fork Wolf Creek Pratt Truss Bridge

  • East Stone Arch Bridge Lake Wabaunsee DSC 8702

    East Stone Arch Bridge - Lake Wabaunsee

  • East Riley Creek Bridge Queen from W 2

    East Riley Creek Bridge

  • Eight Mile Creek Bridge

    Eight Mile Creek Warren Truss Bridge

  • Elk Falls Truss Bridge NRHP 94000403 Elk County, KS (2)

    Elk Falls Pratt Truss Bridge

  • Esch's spur bridge

    Esch's Spur Bridge

  • Fort Fletcher bridge 2nd span from S 1

    Fort Fletcher Stone Arch Bridge

  • Four Mile Creek Lattice Bridge Morris County, Kansas DSC 8748 (1)

    Four Mile Creek Lattice

  • Hackberry Creek x 205 Rd bridge, from SW 2

    Hackberry Creek Bridge

  • Harris Bridge west side view Americus Lyon Co Kansas

    Harris Bridge (Americus, Kansas)

  • Hobbs Creek Truss Leg Bedstead Bridge east view

    Hobbs Creek Truss Leg Bedstead Bridge

  • Jack Creek kingpost bridge from W 1

    Jack Creek Kingpost

  • Jefferson Old Town Bowstring Truss Bridge

    Jefferson Old Town Bowstring Truss

  • Landers Creek Bridge 2

    Landers Creek Bridge

  • Little Walnut River Pratt Truss Bridge

    Little Walnut River Pratt Truss Bridge

  • Long Shoals bridge from NW 1

    Long Shoals Bridge

  • Lyon Creek Rainbow Arch Bridge Geary Co Kansas south view

    Lyon Creek Rainbow Arch

  • John Mack Bridge

    John Mack Bridge

  • Mine Creek Bridge

    Mine Creek Bridge

  • Morton County WPA bridge from W 1

    Morton County WPA Bridge

  • Neosho River Bridge Hartford Kansas view from road

    Neosho River Bridge

  • Prairie Dog Golf Course lattice truss bridge from N 1

    North Fork Solomon River Lattice Truss Bridge

  • Old Katy Bridge DSC 8737

    Old Katy Bridge

  • Onion Creek Bridge

    Onion Creek Bridge (Coffeyville, Kansas)

  • Pawnee R. trib bridge, CR DD, Ness Co, KS, from SW 1

    Pawnee River Tributary Bridge

  • PolecatBridge

    Polecat Creek Bridge

  • Potts bridge Cloud County (cropped)

    Pott's Ford Bridge

  • Republican R. Pegram Truss NE of Concordia, KS 1a

    Republican River Pegram Truss

  • Riley Creek Bridge 170 from SW 3

    Riley Creek Bridge

  • Robidoux Creek Pratt Truss Bridge Kansas

    Robidoux Creek Pratt Truss Bridge

  • Salt Creek Truss Leg Bedstead Bridge railing

    Salt Creek Truss Leg Bedstead Bridge

  • Andes bridge

    Silver Creek Bridge

  • Rainbow Arch, Emporia, KS

    Soden's Grove Bridge

  • Southeast Stone Arch Bridge other side 2

    Southeast Stone Arch Bridge - Lake Wabaunsee

  • Spring Creek Tributary Bridge Lincoln Kansas west view

    Spring Creek Tributary Bridge

  • Stranger Creek-Haskell bridge from N 2

    Stranger Creek Warren Truss Bridge

  • Tauy Jones Bridge

    Tauy Creek Bridge

  • Stone Arch Bridge

    Vermillion Creek Tributary Stone Arch Bridge

  • Walnut Creek Bridge

    Walnut Creek Bridge (Wellsville, Kansas)

  • Barnes, Kansas kingpost bridge from E 2

    Washington County Kingpost

  • Wilson Pratt Truss Bridge Chapman Kansas north view

    Wilson Pratt Truss Bridge

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List of bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in Kansas Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.