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Steyer Bridge
Description
Spanning an unnamed stream in Twin Springs State Park, the Steyer Bridge, named after its builder Michael Steyer, is a short-span stone arch structure. Consisting of roughly-cut limestone voussoirs, the concrete-decked arch is supported by a stone and concrete substructure. The keystone of the arch is a block of dressed limestone, inscribed with "1875" and "Michael Steyer". Presumably, Winneshiek County contracted local stone mason Steyer in 1875 to erect this stone arch. Although stone arches are rare in Iowa, Winneshiek County is an area which was conducive for the construction of this particular bridge design. Stone suitable for the arch was readily available throughout the region. The central part of the county is floored primarily by Trenton limestone, which gradually changes to galena in the southwest corner. Several extensive quarry companies located in the county separated and cut the stone. Near Decorah, pure high-grade limestone of a light-grey color was quarried. Given the abundance of materials, the masonry arch seemed a logical and economical choice for small-scale crossings. Since its construction, the arch has carried moderate vehicular traffic in the park with no alterations of note. Because it is an example of vernacular engineering and is one of the few examples of stone arch design in Iowa, the Steyer bridge is therefore both a historically and structurally significant transportation-related resource [Crow-Dolby and Fraser 1992].Facts
- Overview
- Bridge over Twin Springs Creek on Oneata Drive
- Location
- Winneshiek County, Iowa
- Status
- Open to traffic
- History
- Limestone deck arch was locally built by Michael Steyer.
- Builder
- - Michael Steyer
- Design
- Stone arch
- Recognition
- Posted to the National Register of Historic Places on January 4, 1983
- Approximate latitude, longitude
- +43.29832, -91.81114 (decimal degrees)
43°17'54" N, 91°48'40" W (degrees°minutes'seconds") - Approximate UTM coordinates
- 15/596432/4794629 (zone/easting/northing)
- Quadrangle map:
- Decorah
- Land survey
- Section 20, T98N-R8W
- Inventory numbers
- NRHP 83000411 (National Register of Historic Places reference number)
BH 36197 (Bridgehunter.com ID)
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Link to this bridge:
http://www.ole.dot.state.ia.us/historicbridge/detail.asp?id=...