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

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Michigan is home to many amazing bridges and tunnels, some of which are so special that they are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This list includes 98 bridges and 3 tunnels that are important parts of Michigan's history and engineering. These structures are recognized for their unique design, how they were built, or their role in connecting communities long ago.

Michigan's Historic Bridges and Tunnels

When a bridge or tunnel is added to the National Register of Historic Places, it means it's a really important landmark. These structures are often great examples of how people built things in the past. They tell stories about how transportation has changed over the years in Michigan.

What Makes a Bridge or Tunnel Historic?

For a bridge or tunnel to be considered historic, it usually needs to be at least 50 years old. It also needs to have special meaning, like being a rare type of bridge, being designed by a famous engineer, or playing a big part in local history. These places are protected so future generations can learn from them.

Some Cool Bridges You Can Find

Michigan has many different kinds of historic bridges. Here are a few examples that show how diverse and interesting these structures are:

  • Ada Covered Bridge: Built in 1867, this bridge in Ada is a classic covered bridge. It uses a "Howe truss" design, which is a strong way to build with wood. Covered bridges are rare today, making this one very special.
  • American Legion Memorial Bridge: Located in Traverse City, this concrete arch bridge was built in 1930. It's a beautiful example of how bridges were designed to be both useful and attractive.
  • Bay City Bascule Bridge: This bridge in Bay City was built in 1938. It's a "bascule" bridge, which means it can open up to let boats pass underneath. This type of bridge is like a seesaw, lifting a section of the road.
  • Bell Road Bridge: From 1891, the Bell Road Bridge near Pinckney is a "Pratt through truss" bridge. This design uses a pattern of triangles to make the bridge very strong.
  • Blossomland Bridge: In Saint Joseph, this bridge from 1948 is another "rolling-lift bascule" bridge. It's designed to roll back on giant gears to open for ships.
  • Canyon Falls Bridge: Built in 1948 in L'Anse Township, this bridge is a "steel girder ribbed deck arch." It's a strong and elegant design, often used in scenic areas.
  • Cheboygan Bascule Bridge: Another "Scherzer rolling lift bridge," this one in Cheboygan was built in 1940. It's a great example of movable bridges that help connect roads over busy waterways.
  • Delhi Bridge: This "Pratt through truss" bridge was built in 1890 near Scio. It's one of the older bridges on the list, showing early bridge-building techniques.
  • Fallasburg Covered Bridge: Like the Ada Covered Bridge, this one near Lowell is also a "lattice-work truss" covered bridge. It's a charming reminder of a past era.
  • Fifty-Seventh Street Bridge: This unique "iron truss swing bridge" from 1879 (updated in 1899) is located in Manlius Township. Swing bridges pivot open from a central point to allow boats to pass.
  • Gugel Bridge: Found in Frankenmuth Township, this "Pratt through truss bridge" has parts built in 1904, 1919, and 1920. It shows how bridges could be updated over time.
  • Indian Lake Road Stone Arch Bridge: Near Orion, this bridge is a "stone arch railroad bridge." Stone arches are very old and strong designs, often used for trains.
  • Jackson Branch Bridge No. 15: This "Pratt truss railroad bridge" was built in 1896 in Raisin Township. It's an important piece of railroad history.
  • Lilley Road–Lower Rouge River Bridge: In Canton Township, this "camelback pony truss" bridge was built in 1923 and 1933. The "camelback" shape gives it a distinctive look.
  • Marantette Bridge: Built around 1900 in Mendon, this "Pratt through-truss bridge" is another example of a classic metal truss design.
  • Martin Road Bridge: This "Pratt through-truss bridge" in Corunna was listed in 1991. It's a well-preserved example of its kind.
  • Morseville Bridge: From 1885, this "Pratt through truss" bridge in Taymouth Township is one of the oldest on the list.
  • Parshallburg Bridge: Built in 1889 near Oakley, this "Thacher through truss" bridge is another historic truss bridge with a unique design.
  • Porter Hollow Embankment and Culvert: This "stone arch culvert" from 1885 in Algoma Township shows how even smaller structures can be historically important.
  • Second Street Bridge: In Allegan, this "Pratt through truss" bridge from 1886 is a key part of the town's history.
  • Seventh Street–Black River Bridge: This "single-leaf trunnion bascule" bridge in Port Huron was built in 1932. It's another type of movable bridge that lifts one side.
  • Sixth Street Bridge: Located in Grand Rapids, this "Pratt high truss" bridge from 1886 is a famous landmark in the city.
  • St. Clair River Tunnel: This amazing "subaqueous tunnel" was built in 1889 and 1891, connecting Port Huron under the St. Clair River. It was a huge engineering feat for its time!
  • Stancer Road–North Coldwater River Bridge: From 1888, this "Pratt through truss" bridge in Union Township is a great example of late 19th-century bridge building.
  • State Street Bridge: In Bridgeport, this "Pratt through truss" bridge was built in 1906.
  • Stony Creek Bridge: Built around 1880 in Olive Township, this "Queenpost pony truss bridge" is a simpler, yet still historic, truss design.
  • Thornapple River Drive Bridge: This "camel back bridge" from 1927 in Cascade Township has a distinctive curved shape.
  • Upper Twin Falls Bridge: A "Camelback through truss" bridge from 1910 in Breitung Township, this bridge is another example of a unique truss design.
  • US 12–St. Joseph River Bridge: This "camelback bridge" from 1922 in Mottville is a significant structure on a historic highway.
  • West Jefferson Avenue–Rouge River Bridge: In River Rouge, this "double-leaf steel trunnion bascule" bridge from 1922 is a large, complex movable bridge.

These are just a few of the many historic bridges and tunnels that help tell the story of Michigan's past. They are important reminders of how people built things and connected places long ago.

Images for kids

  • 12 Mile Road Bridge Ceresco

    12 Mile Road–Kalamazoo River Bridge

  • Marengo bridge

    23 Mile Road-Kalamazoo River Bridge

  • Ada Michigan Covered Bridge Upstream DSCN9703

    Ada Covered Bridge

  • AmericanLegionMemorialBridgeTraverseCityMI

    American Legion Memorial Bridge

  • AntietamStBridgeDemolished

    Antietam Street–Grand Trunk Railroad Bridge

  • Ash Street Bridge Mason

    Ash Street–Sycamore Creek Bridge

  • Mill Road-Galien River Bridge (formerly the Avery Road-Galien River Bridge) 01

    Avery Road–Galien River Bridge

  • Ruins of the Ball Rd. Bridge

    Ball Road-Little Salt Creek Bridge

  • Bay City Bascule Bridge Bay City MI

    Bay City Bascule Bridge

  • Beach-GarlandSt-FlintRiverBridgeFlintMI

    Beach-Garland Street-Flint River Bridge

  • BellRoadHuronRiverBridgeWashtenawCountyMI

    Bell Road Bridge

  • Michigan Drawbridge

    Blossomland Bridge

  • Business Route M-21 – Plaster Creek Bridge 2012-09-27 11-13-20

    Business Route M-21–Plaster Creek Bridge

  • Canyon Falls Bridge MI A

    Canyon Falls Bridge

  • Cheboygan Bascule Bridge

    Cheboygan Bascule Bridge

  • ChestnutStBridge

    Chestnut Street–Grand Trunk Railroad Bridge

  • Chicagon Creek Bridge

    Chicagon Mine Road–Chicagon Creek Bridge

  • Bridge over the West Branch of the Escanaba River, Wells Township, Marquette County, Michigan

    County Road 557–West Branch Escanaba River Bridge

  • Old US41 Bridge Chassel D

    County Road C117–Pike River Bridge

  • County Road I-39 Rapid River bridge, Delta County, Michigan. Built 1916

    County Road I-39–Rapid River Bridge

  • DelhiRdHuronRiverBridgeWashtenawCountyMI

    Delhi Bridge

  • Denton Road Bridge Jackson

    Denton Road–Sparks Foundation Park Pond Bridge

  • DerbyStreet-GrandTrunkWesternRailroadBridgeBirminghamMiA

    Derby Street-Grand Trunk Western Railroad Bridge

  • Plaster Creek Bridge 2

    Division Avenue–Plaster Creek Bridge

  • EastRiverRdHickoryCanalBridgeBGrosseIleMi

    East River Road–North Hickory Canal Bridge

  • FallasburgBridge VehicleCrossingDSCN0016

    Fallasburg Covered Bridge

  • FerryStThorofareCanalBridgeAGrosseIlMi

    Ferry Street–Thorofare Canal Bridge

  • New Richmond Swing Bridge - Manlius Township Michigan

    Fifty-Seventh Street Bridge

  • FortStreetPleasantStBridge

    Fort Street–Pleasant Street and Norfolk & Western Railroad Viaduct

  • Petty's Bayou Bridge

    Fruitport Road–Pettys Bayou Bridge

  • GibraltarRdWaterwayCanalBGibraltarMi

    Gibraltar Road–Waterway Canal Bridge

  • Gillespie Street-Clinton River Bridge Pontiac MI

    Gillespie Street-Clinton River Bridge

  • Gugel Bridge - Frankenmuth Michigan

    Gugel Bridge

  • IndianLakeBridgeOrion-1

    Indian Lake Road Stone Arch Bridge

  • Indian Trail Road-Belle River Bridge

    Indian Trail Road–Belle River Bridge

  • Jackson Branch Bridge No 15

    Jackson Branch Bridge No. 15

  • Jeddo Road-South Branch Mill Creek Drain Bridge

    Jeddo Road–South Branch Mill Creek Drain Bridge

  • JeffersonAveHuronRiverHarbinDrSilverCreekBridgesCWayneCoMi

    Jefferson Avenue–Huron River and Harbin Drive–Silver Creek Canal Bridges

  • King Road Whitefish River Bridge A

    King Road–Whitefish River Bridge

  • Lake Leelanau Narrows Bridge

    Lake Leelanau Narrows Bridge

  • LilleyRoadLowerRougeRiverBridgeCantonMi

    Lilley Road–Lower Rouge River Bridge

  • Lincoln Road Pine River Bridge

    Lincoln Road–Pine River Bridge

  • M 26-Cedar Creek Culvert Keweenaw County MI 2009

    M-26–Cedar Creek Culvert

  • M-26-Silver River Culvert Keweenaw County MI 2009

    M-26–Silver River Culvert

  • M28-SandRiverBridgeMI

    M-28–Sand River Bridge

  • M28-TahquamenonRiverBridgeMI

    M-28–Tahquamenon River Bridge

  • Sandstone Creek Bridge

    M-50–Sandstone Creek Bridge

  • M-72-Au Sable River Bridge A

    M-72–Au Sable River Bridge

  • Prairie River Bridge

    M-86–Prairie River Bridge

  • M-88 Intermediate River Bridge

    M-88–Intermediate River Bridge

  • M94 AU Train River Bridge A

    Old M-94–Au Train River Bridge

  • Mackinac Trail – Carp River Bridge a

    Mackinac Trail – Carp River Bridge

  • 2013-07-13 Main Street, Black River Bridge

    Main Street–Black River Bridge

  • Marantette Bridge

    Marantette Bridge

  • Martin Road Bridge Corunna

    Martin Road Bridge

  • Masters Road–Belle River Bridge

    Masters Road–Belle River Bridge

  • Mill Street-South Branch Raisin River Bridge Brooklyn Michigan

    Mill Street–South Branch Raisin River Bridge

  • NorthWatervlietRd-PawpawLakeOutlet-Bridge

    North Watervliet Road–Paw Paw Lake Outlet Bridge

  • ParkLnThorofareCanalBridgeBGrosseIlMi

    Parke Lane Road–Thorofare Canal Bridge

  • Charlotte River Bridge

    Parker Road–Charlotte River Bridge

  • Parshallburg Bridge

    Parshallburg Bridge

  • 2013-07-13 Planter Road Jackson Creek Bridge from Bank

    Planter Road–Jackson Creek Bridge

  • Porter Hollow Embankment and Culvert

    Porter Hollow Embankment and Culvert

  • Powers Highway Battle Creek Bridge

    Powers Highway-Battle Creek Bridge

  • 2nd street bridge sign

    Second Street Bridge

  • Seventh Street-Black River Bridge

    Seventh Street–Black River Bridge

  • Sixth Street Bridge, Grand Rapids

    Sixth Street Bridge

  • SouthPointeRdFrenchmansCreekBridgeGrosseIleMi

    South Pointe Drive–Frenchman's Creek Bridge

  • SouthUnionStreet-BoardmanRiver BridgeTraverseCityMI

    South Union Street–Boardman River Bridge

  • St Clair River Tunnel - Port Huron Michigan

    St. Clair River Tunnel

  • Stancer-Road-North Coldwater River Bridge

    Stancer Road–North Coldwater River Bridge

  • State Street Bridge - Bridgeport Michigan

    State Street Bridge

  • Stony Creek Bridge2 NRHP 99001467 Clinton County, MI

    Stony Creek Bridge

  • Ten Curves Road-Manistique River Bridge B

    Ten Curves Road–Manistique River Bridge

  • Thomson Road-Air Line Railroad Bridge

    Thomson Road–Air Line Railroad Bridge

  • Thornapple River Drive Bridge

    Thornapple River Drive Bridge

  • Trowbridge Road-Grand Trunk Western Railroad Bridge Bloomfield Hills MI A

    Trowbridge Road-Grand Trunk Western Railroad Bridge

  • US 41 Peshekee Bridge

    Trunk Line Bridge No. 1

  • Trunk Line Bridge No. 237

    Trunk Line Bridge No. 237

  • I94 US12 bridgeA

    US 12 Bridges

  • US 12–St. Joseph River Bridge 5

    US 12–St. Joseph River Bridge

  • US 41-Fanny Hooe Creek Bridge Keweenaw County MI 2009

    US 41–Fanny Hooe Creek Bridge

  • US12-Coldwater Bridge

    US-12–Coldwater River Bridge

  • Old US41 Bridge Baraga MI

    US 41 (old)–Backwater Creek Bridge

  • Upper Twin Falls Bridge 1911

    Upper Twin Falls Bridge

  • Vernier Street-Swan Creek Bridge

    Vernier Street–Swan Creek Bridge

  • Wadhams Road Bridge

    Wadhams Road–Pine River Bridge

  • Waltz Road-Huron River Bridge New Boston MI

    Waltz Road–Huron River Bridge

  • JeffersonRougeRiverBridge

    West Jefferson Avenue–Rouge River Bridge

  • West Mitchell Street Bridge

    West Mitchell Street Bridge

  • Swartz Creek Bridge Flint

    West Second Street–Swartz Creek Bridge

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