Photo By Janecze Wright | The Waco Suspension Bridge stretching across the Brazos River provided a picturesque...... read more read more
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WACO, Texas — Waco’s heritage and storied history has established a host of iconic landmarks.
During a stroll downtown, I came across the Waco Suspension Bridge and was struck by its architectural appeal.
Surrounded by Indian Spring Park on the west side and Martin Luther King Jr. Park on the east side, the bridge serves as a stunning backdrop to festivals and community events and offers approximately seven miles of lighted trail along the banks of the Brazos River for visitors to enjoy.
As I read the many placards narrating the story of the bridge, I discovered that the landmark is just as historic as it is beautiful.
The Waco Suspension Bridge began as a solution to the time consuming and often dangerous task of crossing the Brazos River, which could only be done by ferry.
The bridge also served as a Chisholm Trail crossing, the main route to transport livestock and goods, and local businessmen surmised that a more convenient method of transport was needed to support commerce.
Opened Nov. 20, 1869, the single-span suspension bridge spans 475 feet, contains nearly 3 million bricks and is the first major suspension bridge in Texas.
Wide enough for stagecoaches to travel on opposite sides, the bridge collected its first five-cent toll on Jan. 1, 1870, quickly reimbursing its estimated $141,000 cost.
McLennan County acquired the bridge 20 years later for more than half of its construction costs and all tolls were removed.
Throughout the years, the bridge underwent major reconstruction, replacing older materials and reinforcing the structure to support heavier weights. It also doubled as a new pedestrian walkway and a popular place for visitors to spend the day.
After more than 100 years of traffic, and with the construction of larger and safer bridges emerging, the Waco Suspension Bridge was retired.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970 and was designated as a Texas Historic Civil Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Civil Engineers in 1971.
Long gone are the cowboys and cattle drives of years past, but their likenesses are frozen in time in the form of bronze statues that adorn the base of the bridge in tribute to Waco’s role on the Chisholm Trail and the many travels from South Texas to Kansas.
“Branding the Brazos,” an art collection commissioned in 2008 by acclaimed sculptor Robert Summers, depicts the life-size bronze statues of Chisholm Trail cattle drive cowboys on horseback and 25 life-size bronze cattle as they would have most likely looked in their heyday.
It’s hard to believe the Waco Suspension Bridge was once a bustling thoroughfare for commerce in the late 19th century, as it still stands as a modern attraction that blends seamlessly with the natural splendor that surrounds it.
Once a groundbreaking structure built to streamline travel, the bridge remains a striking representation of early innovation that resonates with the modern influences of today, more than 150 years after its construction.
Nostalgic sounds of horses that once echoed across the deck, have been replaced with the rhythmic cadence of joggers and walkers. Wagon wheels have given way to bikes, scooters and strollers and the structure, with its sleek steel beams and contemporary design, once regaled for bolstering Waco’s financial status, also offers a unique backdrop for an epic selfie, the perfect setting for a first date or even an Instagram worthy marriage proposal.
After more than a century, the Waco Suspension Bridge endures as a testament to the ingenuity and perseverance of the city’s early pioneers — a symbol of days past, a milestone for the present and an exhibit of longevity, to be enjoyed by generations to come.
Visit https://www.waco-texas.com/Departments/Parks-Recreation/Suspension-Bridge-Riverwalk-Area for more information on the Waco Suspension Bridge.
| Date Taken: | 03.14.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 04.23.2024 14:35 |
| Story ID: | 468775 |
| Location: | WACO, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 25 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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