Mike Lynch

About Me 

I am a California state park ranger and historian by interest. I have written two books on the history of California State Park Rangers and co-authored several local history books on Auburn area and Placer County in California. I also have two programs that I give to the public on historic bridges in the American River Canyon. Additionally, I am a collector of conservation (i.e. parks, forestry and fish & game) insignia, badges and patches and a collector of porcelain enamel California traffic signs and conservation agency signs from around the country.

Favorite Photos 

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Orland Arch on old 99 Orland Hambright Creek Bridge (Glenn County, California) The Orland Arch was constructed in 1926. About 1/2 mile north is the Hambright Creek Bridge and Swift Adobe historical monument. Enlarge

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Soquel Creek bridge Capitola CA 1950's Stockton Ave Soquel Creek Bridge (Santa Cruz County, California) 1940-50's photo of the Soquel Creek Bridge from a color postcard. Enlarge

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Colfax Overhead Bridge picture from 1939 Hwy 174 Colfax (Placer County, California) Close up of Caltrans photo of Colfax Overhead Bridge with Colfax City Limits sign. Enlarge

Recent Updates 

Albion River Bridge (Mendocino County, California)
Deck truss bridge over Albion River on CA 1
July 31, 2013: New photo

Larkin Street Bridge (Monterey County, California)
Canticrete deck truss bridge over Hartnell Gulch on Larkin Street
July 21, 2013: Updated by Mike Lynch: historical picture and information on bridge. Also some additional close-up pictures of bridge features.

Larkin Street Bridge (Monterey County, California)
Canticrete deck truss bridge over Hartnell Gulch on Larkin Street
July 21, 2013: New photos

Salinas River Bridge (Monterey County, California)
Pony/through plate girder bridge over Salinas River on Gonzales River Road
July 21, 2013: New photos

No-Hands Bridge (Placer County, California)
Closed-spandrel Reinforced concrete arch bridge over North Fork American River
July 17, 2013: Updated by Mike Lynch: added historical info and photos

No-Hands Bridge (Placer County, California)
Closed-spandrel Reinforced concrete arch bridge over North Fork American River
July 17, 2013: New photos

North Fork American River Bridge (Placer County, California)
Deck plate girder bridge over North Fork American River on CA 49
July 17, 2013: New photo

C Avenue Bridge (Placer County, California)
1943 concrete Slab bridge with brick railings over Ophir Canal on C Ave built in WWII as part of the Army Dewitt General Hospital
July 15, 2013: Added

North Fork Bridge (Placer County, California)
Curved deck truss bridge over North Fork of Middle Fork of American River on FDR 96-Mosquito Ridge Road
July 15, 2013: New photos

Newcastle Tunnel (Placer County, California)
Former Hwy 40 Tunnel under Under hillside and UP Railroad on Taylor Rd
July 14, 2013: Updated by Mike Lynch: Provided revision on name and historical information and photos

Folsom Powerhouse Canal Bridge (Sacramento County, California)
Bridge over PGE Powerhouse Canal on American River Bike Trail/former Greenback Lane
June 25, 2013: New photos

Iowa Hill bridge (Placer County, California)
Wire suspension bridge over North Fork American River on Foot traffic only
June 24, 2013: Updated by Mike Lynch: added historical and modern pictures, updated history and provided alternate names for bridge

Iowa Hill bridge (Placer County, California)
Wire suspension bridge over North Fork American River on Foot traffic only
June 24, 2013: New photos

Big Dann Creek Bridge (Mendocino County, California)
Concrete arch bridge over Big Dann Creek on CA 271
June 24, 2013: New photo

Douglas Memorial Bridge (Del Norte County, California)
Lost Open-spandrel arch bridge over Klamath River on old US 101
June 24, 2013: New photos

Yankee Jims Bridge (Placer County, California)
Suspension bridge over North Fork American River on Yankee Jims Road
June 24, 2013: New photos

Douglas Memorial Bridge (Del Norte County, California)
Lost Open-spandrel arch bridge over Klamath River on old US 101
June 23, 2013: New photo

Hardscrabble Creek Bridge (Del Norte County, California)
Concrete box girder bridge over Hardscrabble Creek on US 199 (Redwood Highway)
June 23, 2013: Updated by Mike Lynch: revised bridge info

Folsom Powerhouse Canal Bridge (Sacramento County, California)
Bridge over PGE Powerhouse Canal on American River Bike Trail/former Greenback Lane
June 23, 2013: Added

Hardscrabble Creek Bridge (Del Norte County, California)
Concrete box girder bridge over Hardscrabble Creek on US 199 (Redwood Highway)
June 23, 2013: Added

Fernbridge (Humboldt County, California)
Concrete arch bridge over Eel River on CA 211
June 22, 2013: New photo

UP - Santa Ana River Viaduct (Riverside County, California)
Closed-spandrel arch bridge over Santa Ana River on Union Pacific Railroad
June 22, 2013: New photos

Donner Pass Road Bridge (Nevada County, California)
Concrete arch bridge over Donner Summit on Donner Pass Road
June 22, 2013: New photos

Ecklon Bridge (Sacramento County, California)
Lost Wire suspension bridge over American River in Folsom
June 17, 2013: New photos

California Central Railroad - American River Bridge (Sacramento County, California)
Lost Deck truss bridge over American River on California Central Railroad
June 17, 2013: New photos

Figueroa Street Bridge (Sacramento County, California)
Stringer slab bridge over Riley Ravine Creek on Figueroa Street
June 17, 2013: Updated by Mike Lynch: added plaque wording information

Figueroa Street Bridge (Sacramento County, California)
Stringer slab bridge over Riley Ravine Creek on Figueroa Street
June 17, 2013: Added

Orangevale Avenue Bridge (Sacramento County, California)
Concrete open spandral arch bridge over Gold Creek on Orangevale Avenue in Folsom
June 16, 2013: Updated by Mike Lynch: Added information on bridge use and engineer Drury W. Butler, Sacramento County Survey (Engineer) overseeing the bridge construction.

Orangevale Avenue Bridge (Sacramento County, California)
Concrete open spandral arch bridge over Gold Creek on Orangevale Avenue in Folsom
June 16, 2013: New photo

Bridge Street Bridge (San Luis Obispo County, California)
Pratt Pony truss bridge over Arroyo Grande Creek on Bridge Street in Arroyo Grande
June 12, 2013: New photos

Fernley & Lassen - Willows Creek/Gulch Bridge (Washoe County, Nevada)
Bridge over Willow Creek on formerly the Fernley Lassen Railroad used until 1956
June 8, 2013: Added

UP - Truckee River Bridge (Washoe County, Nevada)
Through truss bridge over Truckee River on Union Pacific Railroad
June 8, 2013: New photo

UP - Truckee River Bridge (Washoe County, Nevada)
Through truss bridge over Truckee River on Union Pacific Railroad
June 7, 2013: Added

UP - US 95 Overpass (Lyon County, Nevada)
Concrete deck girder bridge over West Main Street which is Hwys.US 40 & 95 and Nev. 427 on Union Pacific Railroad
June 4, 2013: Added

Virginia Street Bridge (1905) (Washoe County, Nevada)
Lost Two-span concrete arch bridge over Truckee River on Virginia Street in Reno
June 3, 2013: New photos

Goodrich Creek Bridge (Lassen County, California)
Concrete culvert bridge over Goodrich Creek on State Hwy 36, Lassen County
May 30, 2013: Added

Devil's Corral Highway Bridge (Lassen County, California)
Open-spandrel arch bridge over Susan River on "Formerly Lassen Volcanic Highway" & Hwy 36 until replaced by a downstream bridge and reallignment of Hwy 36 in 1965.
May 30, 2013: Updated by Mike Lynch: Added category "Curved"

Devil's Corral Highway Bridge (Lassen County, California)
Open-spandrel arch bridge over Susan River on "Formerly Lassen Volcanic Highway" & Hwy 36 until replaced by a downstream bridge and reallignment of Hwy 36 in 1965.
May 30, 2013: Added

Ash Creek Bridge (Siskiyou County, California)
Baltimore through truss bridge over Klamath River on Klamath River Road
May 26, 2013: New photo

Big Chico Creek Bridge (Butte County, California)
Concrete tee beam bridge over Big Chico Creek on Nord Avenue/CA-32
May 20, 2013: Added

Orland Hambright Creek Bridge (Glenn County, California)
Concrete deck girder bridge over Hambright Creek on Former US 99 West
May 20, 2013: New photos

Orland Hambright Creek Bridge (Glenn County, California)
Concrete deck girder bridge over Hambright Creek on Former US 99 West
May 19, 2013: Added

Gianella Bridge (Butte County, California)
Lost swing bridge over Sacramento River on State Route 32
May 19, 2013: New photos

Douglas Memorial Bridge (Del Norte County, California)
Lost Open-spandrel arch bridge over Klamath River on old US 101
July 6, 2012: New photos

Stockton Ave Soquel Creek Bridge (Santa Cruz County, California)
Beam bridge over Soquel Creek on Stockton Avenue
July 6, 2012: New photo

Hwy 174 Colfax (Placer County, California)
Deck plate girder bridge over Union Pacific RR, & Amtrak on State Route 174
August 14, 2011: New photos

Middle Bar Bridge (Calaveras County, California)
Pratt through truss bridge over Mokelumne River on Middle Bar Road
August 14, 2011: New photo

Auburn-Foresthill Bridge (Placer County, California)
Deck truss bridge over North Fork American River on Auburn-Foresthill Road in North Auburn
June 14, 2011: New photos

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