Steinhart Park Pedestrian Bridge

Inquired about the bridge today. I was told that it is likely not going to be torn out until sometime next year.

Regards,

Art S.

The folks I talked with said there are a few people who want it at the city county level.

The SHPO and DOT say not only was the span cut for width it was also cut apart many times for length.

Was supposed to get better photos bht they have not arrived.

Grinnell needs a lil ped bridge by a lake.

All I know. Got some names.

All I know is that I found this bridge a couple of years ago when I was staying at a friend's house in Nebraska. I could not believe my eyes that it was a real bowstring bridge and, as such, I took pictures of it and added it onto this site. The sad thing is that I called the park shortly after that and they said that they plan on replacing this bridge with a MOB. Recently, the SHPO, the guy that determines the historical value of stuff in NE, says that it is not historic, so therefore it gives the park the green light to scrap it. Being a seminary student/missionary with little funds I do not have the resources to get the bridge moved, repaired, or rehabbed and that breaks my heart. All I know to do is to make this post and see if anyone would be willing to take the time and effort to beg the officials at the park to let them have it, and then spend the money it would take to move it somewhere else and get it rehabbed. Anyway, any takers would be appreciated or if anyone would tell me, a guy that is clueless on how to get stuff like historic bridges saved from scrapping, how it would be possible to get the bridge saved. It would be a dream come true for someone like me to be involved in something like that.

The folks I talked with said there are a few people who want it at the city county level.

The SHPO and DOT say not only was the span cut for width it was also cut apart many times for length.

Was supposed to get better photos bht they have not arrived.

Grinnell needs a lil ped bridge by a lake.

All I know. Got some names.

James McCray,

I was on the page for Otoe county as I was adding photos to another bridge.

As to the maker - it's clear to me it's built by King Iron Bridge and Mfg. Company. I got some detailed photos of a bowstring pony truss in Little America rest area in central Illinois. http://bridgehunter.com/il/fulton/bh49863/ The details match.

Mr. King got a patent on his design in 1867, so it would have been built after that. By 1890 or so, not many were being installed.

A lot of historic trusses have to be moved to get them in a park. Here they have one already. Repairing it should be pretty easy.

And Nebraska State Historic and Preservation Office seems to think this 110+ year old bridge isn't historic? That's worse than than anonymous guy who keeps shouting comments about non-historic. Is there a way for any of us to influence them?

James,

Did you happen to hear from the city if the plan to replace the bridge will use federal aid funds? Or is the city paying for the whole new bridge itself? If federal funds are involved, someone needs to get the SHPO to do a determination of eligibility (which for a bridge of this caliber should find it eligible), then this would trigger Section 106 and they would have to consider alternatives to demolition.

Given the number of bowstrings preserved for pedestrian use elsewhere the idea that this bridge should be replaced is absurd. The twisted and broken trusses of bridges like this have been dragged out of rivers to be restored for pedestrian use. This bridge is still standing, so relatively speaking preservation would be easy.

I would say that it is likely a King product as well. Otoe County ordered many bridges from KBC in the 1870's and 1880's.

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/nediv/bridges/otoe.htm

Hopefully they will rethink the replacement of this span and rehab it instead.

Looks like a King Bridge Co. product to me. Probably from the 1870s or early 1880s.

I discovered this real bowstring pony truss bridge very recently on an obscure website while looking for bridges to hunt in the state of NE. I called Steinhart Park in Nebraska City to inquire about it and they told me that the bridge is still there and I have permission to come and photograph it when I visit NE in July. Unfortunately, they also told me that the bridge is scheduled to be replaced with a newer pedestrian bridge (possibly one of those modern truss pedestrian types) within two years.

Here are a few questions for anyone willing to comment:

From the picture (and park officials) it is a real historic bowstring truss, but they did not know anything about its origins. Does any one have a clue where it was originally from?

Can anyone guess who made it?

Is anyone interested in getting the bridge so it will not be destroyed? I asked the park about the bridge and they have not yet decided on its future after the new bridge is put in place except that it is removed. Here is a link to a news article about the bridge and its future: http://www.ncnewspress.com/topstories/x272792050/City-closes...

I sense a MOB coming...