London Bridge (Lake Havasu City) Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids London Bridge in Lake Havasu
London Bridge in Lake Havasu City
Coordinates	34°28′18″N 114°20′51″W / 34.471599°N 114.347549°W / 34.471599; -114.347549
Carries	McCulloch Boulevard
Crosses	Bridgewater Channel Canal
Locale	Lake Havasu City, Arizona, United States
Characteristics
Design	Arch bridge
Material	Clynelish (Brora) sandstone and various granite mixes
Total length	930 feet (280 m; 167 sm)
Longest span	45.6 metres (150 ft)
Number of spans	5
History
Designer	John Rennie
Construction begin	1967
Construction end	1971 (reconstructed)
Closed	1967 (pre-move)
Statistics
Toll	None

London Bridge is a famous bridge located in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, in the United States. It's special because it used to be in London, England! This historic bridge was first built in the 1830s and crossed the River Thames in London.

In 1967, the bridge was carefully taken apart. Its pieces were then moved all the way to Arizona. The bridge you see in Arizona today is a strong reinforced concrete structure. It is covered with the original stone blocks from the 1830s bridge. These blocks were bought by a man named Robert P. McCulloch from the City of London.

McCulloch had each granite block from the old bridge numbered. Then, they were shipped to the United States. He used them to build the current bridge in Lake Havasu City. This city was a new community he started in 1964 near Lake Havasu. The bridge was finished in 1971, along with a new canal. It now connects an island in the Colorado River to the main part of Lake Havasu City. The London Bridge was officially opened again on October 10, 1971.

The Journey of London Bridge
Images for kids
See also

The Journey of London Bridge

London Bridge in 1972, showing the canal

Why the Bridge Moved

The London Bridge that was built in 1831 was the last big project of an engineer named John Rennie. His son, John Rennie the Younger, finished building it. By 1962, the bridge was getting old. It wasn't strong enough to handle all the cars and trucks using it. So, the City of London decided to sell it.

Who Bought the Bridge?

The person who bought the bridge was Robert P. McCulloch. He was a businessman who wanted to attract people to Lake Havasu City. He hoped the bridge would bring tourists and people looking for retirement homes to the area.

There's a popular story that McCulloch thought he was buying London's more famous Tower Bridge. However, both McCulloch and Ivan Luckin, who sold the bridge, said this was not true.

From Desert Land to a City

The land where Lake Havasu City now stands was once empty desert. The U.S. Federal Government gave this land, which included an old military airstrip, to the state of Arizona. McCulloch made a deal with the state. He got the land for free, promising to develop it.

However, real estate agents found it hard to sell land there. It was far from big cities and had a very hot, dry climate. McCulloch's real estate agent, Robert Plumer, heard that London Bridge was for sale. He convinced McCulloch that buying it would attract people to the area. McCulloch first thought it was a "crazy idea." But after thinking about it, he decided to buy the bridge for $2.46 million.

Moving the Bridge Pieces

Plumer then found a shipping company. This company was sailing a new ship from Great Britain to the United States without any cargo. Plumer arranged for them to carry the bridge pieces. This was much cheaper than regular shipping costs.

The stone blocks of the bridge were carefully taken apart. Each block was given a number. After the bridge was taken down, it was moved to Merrivale Quarry. There, about 15 to 20 centimeters were cut off many of the original stones. The bridge pieces arrived in California at the Port of Long Beach. From there, they were trucked overland to Lake Havasu City. Rebuilding the bridge started in 1968. On September 23, 1968, the first stone was relaid by Sir Gilbert Inglefield, who was the Lord Mayor of London.

Rebuilding the Bridge in Arizona

London Bridge in 1973

The original stone blocks were used to cover a new concrete structure. The rebuilding process took a little over three years. It was finished in late 1971. The bridge was not rebuilt over an existing river. Instead, it was built on land between the main part of the city and Pittsburgh Point. Pittsburgh Point was a piece of land sticking out into Lake Havasu.

Once the bridge was finished, the Bridgewater Channel Canal was dug underneath it. Water then filled the canal. This separated Pittsburgh Point from the city, turning it into an island. So now, the bridge crosses this new canal. It creates a shortcut for boats between Thompson Bay (south of Pittsburgh Point) and the rest of Lake Havasu (to the north).

Success and Development

After the bridge was rebuilt, many people came to see it. They also looked at properties for sale. Land sales greatly improved. McCulloch made back all the money he spent on buying and shipping the bridge. Since he got the land for free, selling the properties paid for the bridge and more.

In recent years, the area around the bridge has been developed to attract even more tourists. The original "English Village," which was an outdoor shopping area with an English theme, has changed. Parts of it were removed. The Lake Havasu City Convention & Visitors Bureau has been working to improve the English Village.