Pine Mill Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Pine Mill Bridge
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | Over Pine Creek in Wildcat Den State Park |
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| Built | 1878 |
| Architect | Wrought Iron Bridge Company |
| Architectural style | Pratt Truss bridge |
| MPS | Highway Bridges of Iowa MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 98000493 |
| Added to NRHP | May 15, 1998 |
The Pine Mill Bridge is a really old and important bridge. You can find it in Wildcat Den State Park in Muscatine County, Iowa, United States. It was built in 1878. This bridge is special because it's right next to the Pine Creek Gristmill. It's the only place in Iowa where you can still see a mill and a bridge together! The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. This means it's a protected historical site.
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Why Was the Pine Mill Bridge Built?
Back in 1877, people living in Montpelier Township needed a way to cross Pine Creek. They asked the Muscatine County leaders for a bridge. Farmers especially needed it to move their crops. Most of the time, the creek was easy to cross. But after heavy rain, it turned into a fast and dangerous river.
Building the Bridge: A Quick Look
It took a year to start building the bridge because of money issues. In September 1878, a company called the Wrought Iron Bridge Company got the job. They were from Canton, Ohio. By the end of that year, the bridge was finished! Many places in Iowa used to have a mill and a bridge together. But the Pine Mill Bridge is the only one that still stands today.
What Kind of Bridge Is It?
The Pine Mill Bridge is a type of structure called a Pratt through truss bridge. A truss bridge uses a framework of triangles to make it very strong. This design helps the bridge hold a lot of weight. The Wrought Iron Bridge Company built many bridges like this one.
Pine Mill Bridge Dimensions
This bridge has seven main sections. It is about 96 feet (29 meters) long. The part of the bridge where people can walk or drive is about 16 feet (5 meters) wide.
