What Is the Beaver Creek Bridge?
This rare deck arch bridge connects Wind Cave National Park to Custer State Park!
What Makes It Historical?
In 1900, the time-tested technique of building arch bridges with brick and mortar found a new rival: concrete! This update took South Dakota bridge building by storm, first forming foundations for the huge metal truss bridges across major rivers, then by 1930, complete bridges spanning ditches, ravines, and canyons! In 1929, Wind Cave was about to be joined by Custer State Park to the north, but the two tourist destinations were separated by the mighty, magnificent Beaver Creek ravine and a twelve-mile detour to get around it!
Enter Senator Peter Norbeck, who was already working on developing Custer State Park. He enlisted State Bridge Engineer, J. Harper Hamilton, to figure out the best way to span the deep ravine, and once designed, Morris Adelstein of the Northwestern Engineering Company got to work making it happen! Keeping in line with National Park Service aesthetics, the bridge was designed to look like a natural extension of the rock on either side! Construction ran from June 15, 1929 until November 15 of the same year, when South Dakota’s only open spandrel concrete arch bridge was ready for use! It is considered one of the top three most significant bridges in the whole Rocky Mountain region!
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Volunteer at Beaver Creek Bridge!
- Donate to the Friends of Wind Cave National Park!
- 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?
SD-87, 1.3 miles north of US-385
Custer, SD 57730
(Take Me There!)
When Should I Visit?
Whenever the mood strikes you!