What Is the Stone Arch Bridge?
This is the only stone arch bridge spanning the Mississippi River and the oldest mainline railroad bridge in the whole Northwest!
What Makes It Historical?
This vast, 23-arch bridge was engineered by Col. Charles C. Smith between 1882 and 1883 with the goal was to ease traffic on the Hennepin Avenue suspension bridge, the only other way into the city! It was such a huge undertaking, commissioned by James J. Hill of the Great Northern Railway, that locals called it “Jim Hill’s Folly!” It was built to look like a Roman viaduct, 2,100 feet long, part granite and part limestone, and double-tracked! Plus, it was actually designed so it wouldn’t erode the sandstone making up St. Anthony Falls! The Great Northern Railway used the bridge all the way until 1978, and since the 1990s, it’s been a pedestrian bridge instead!
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Become a member of the Minnesota Historical Society!
- Donate to the Minnesota Historical Society!
- Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!
How Do I Get There?
South End:
- 102 Portland Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55401
North End:
- 830 SE Main St
Minneapolis, MN 55455
When Should I Visit?
Whenever the mood strikes you!