|
|
Article: Eads Bridge
- Article from:
- Dictionary of American History
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 The Gale Group Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
EADS BRIDGE
EADS BRIDGE,
the first bridge across the Mississippi River, constructed 1868
–
1874 at Saint Louis, Missouri. Engineer James B. Eads, designer of ironclad warships for the Union navy, spent part of his youth in Saint Louis and was active in raising funds for the bridge project. He spanned the river with three arches of steel ribs and iron girders. The central span measures 520 feet and the two side spans 502 feet each
—
the longest arches in existence at the time it was constructed. For many years, ...