Rainbow Bridge (Kansas) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Brush Creek Bridge
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Rainbow Bridge
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 Location in Kansas
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Baxter Springs, Kansas |
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| Built | 1923 |
| Architect | James Barney Marsh |
| MPS | Rainbow Arch Marsh Arch Bridges of Kansas TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 83000419 |
| Added to NRHP | March 10, 1983 |
The Rainbow Bridge is a very old and special bridge in Kansas. It crosses over Brush Creek, near a town called Riverton. This bridge was once a part of the famous Route 66, a historic highway across America. Today, it is a county road.
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What Makes the Rainbow Bridge Special?
The Rainbow Bridge was built in 1923. It is a unique type of bridge called a Marsh arch bridge. This design was created by an architect named James Barney Marsh. The Rainbow Bridge is the only one of its kind left on the entire old Route 66 highway.
Its Connection to Historic Route 66
The Rainbow Bridge is famous because it was part of U.S. Route 66. This highway was a major road for travelers across the United States. The bridge is about two miles west of Riverton, Kansas.
Why is the Bridge Important?
The Rainbow Bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was added on March 10, 1983, because of its link to Route 66. It is also a special landmark for the state of Kansas.
The bridge has sometimes had graffiti on it. But it was recently painted white again.
New Bridge, Old Bridge
The Rainbow Bridge is quite narrow. Because of the amount of traffic, a new, wider bridge was built nearby. The main road now curves to the new bridge.
However, a short, one-way road still leads to the Rainbow Bridge. You can still drive across it. This was decided after a disagreement. Local groups wanted to save the old bridge. Since it was on the National Register, it could not be torn down.
Famous Visitors
In the year 2000, country music singer Brad Paisley visited the bridge. He performed the song "Route 66" there. This performance was for a TV show called "Route 66: Main Street America" on the TLC channel.
