List of bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in Montana facts for kids
Montana is a big state with lots of history! Many of its old bridges and tunnels are so important that they are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This special list helps protect places that are important to American history.
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What is the National Register of Historic Places?
The National Register of Historic Places is like a hall of fame for buildings, structures, and sites in the United States. It's the official list of places that are worth saving because of their history. When a bridge or tunnel is added to this list, it means it's a special part of our past. It helps people learn about how things were built long ago.
Why are Bridges and Tunnels Important?
Bridges and tunnels are more than just ways to get from one place to another. They show us how people solved problems in the past. They tell stories about engineering, travel, and how communities grew. Many of Montana's historic bridges were built to help people cross rivers or canyons. Tunnels helped connect places through mountains. These structures often used amazing building techniques for their time.
Famous Montana Bridges
Montana has many cool bridges on the National Register. Let's look at a few examples.
Bell Street Bridge
The Bell Street Bridge in Glendive was built in 1926. It's a type of bridge called a "Warren through truss." This means it has a special pattern of triangles that makes it very strong. It helped people cross the river safely for many years.
Carbella Bridge
Near Gardiner, you can find the Carbella Bridge. It's another historic bridge that was added to the National Register in 2010. Bridges like this one were vital for connecting towns and helping people travel across Montana's wide-open spaces.
Dearborn River High Bridge
The Dearborn River High Bridge was built way back in 1897 near Augusta. It's a "Pratt half-deck truss" bridge. Imagine how challenging it was to build such a big bridge over a river more than a hundred years ago! It's a great example of early bridge building.
Fort Benton Bridge
The Fort Benton Bridge in Fort Benton is even older, built in 1888! This bridge is a true piece of history. It helped people and goods cross the river in a time when Montana was still very wild. It shows how important rivers were for travel and trade.
Fromberg Concrete Arch Bridge
Near Fromberg, there's a special bridge called the Fromberg Concrete Arch Bridge. It was built in 1914 and is a "concrete arch bridge." This means it has a beautiful curved shape made of concrete. It's a strong and elegant design.
Lewis and Clark Bridge
The Lewis and Clark Bridge near Wolf Point was built in 1930. It's a "Pennsylvania Through Truss" bridge. This type of bridge has a very strong design, perfect for crossing large rivers like the Missouri. It's named after the famous explorers, Lewis and Clark, who traveled through this area.
Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Bridge
The Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Bridge in Troy was built in 1912. It's a "Parker-through truss" bridge. This bridge is a memorial, meaning it was built to honor someone important, in this case, President Theodore Roosevelt. It shows how bridges can be more than just crossings; they can be symbols.
Montana's Special Tunnel
While most historic structures on the list are bridges, Montana also has a very cool tunnel!
Ptarmigan Tunnel
The Ptarmigan Tunnel is located near West Glacier and was built in 1930. It's not a tunnel for cars or trains, but a special tunnel for hikers in Glacier National Park. It goes right through a mountain! Imagine walking through a tunnel that was carved out of rock almost a hundred years ago. It's an amazing feat of engineering that helps people explore the beautiful park.
Images for kids
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The Conley Street Bridge.
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The Hardy Bridge.
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The Hutchins Bridge.
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The Little Blackfoot River Bridge.
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The Missouri River Bridge at Wolf Creek.
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The Natural Pier Bridge.
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The Fred Robinson Bridge.
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The Scenic Bridge.
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The Tenth Street Bridge.
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The Toston Bridge.
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