Bradbury in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Mr. Bradbury’s Bridge

1908

Photographed by Craig Baker, August 3, 2019

1. Mr. Bradbury’s Bridge Marker

Inscription. With the 1907 extension of Huntington’s Pacific Electric system through Duarte to Glendora, a cut was created to level the railroad’s right of way in front of L.L. Bradbury’s country home. To provide access to his home, the site of which is now occupied by Royal Oaks Manor, Bradbury commissioned the construction of this bridge. Like the Puente Largo aereo bridge carrying the Pacific Electric over the San Gabriel River, it is an early example of reinforced concrete bridges in the western United States. The bridge is about 90 feet long. The arch is 60 feet long and 23 feet high above the roadbed. The roadway, paved directly on top of the arch, is 22 feet wide. Closed to traffic around 1960, it has remained open for pedestrian use. The original stairs were removed, but were replaced during the renovation in 2003.

Erected 2004 by City of Bradbury; and Duarte Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Bridges & Viaducts • Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1907.

Location. 34° 8.623′ N, 117° 58.069′ W.

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Marker is in Bradbury, California, in Los Angeles County. It is at the intersection of Royal Oaks Drive North and Oaks Avenue, on the left when traveling west on Royal Oaks Drive North. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1763 Royal Oaks Drive, Duarte CA 91010, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Los Angeles

and in the Transverse Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

on the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Orange Blossom Park (approx. 0.2 miles away); Andres Avelino Duarte (approx. 0.3 miles away); City of Hope (approx. 0.9 miles away); The Trails Restaurant (approx. one mile away); Hitching Post (approx. 1.2 miles away); Glenn Miller (approx. 1.7 miles away); Pacific Electric Railway (approx. 1.9 miles away); The Banning Block (approx.

Bridge and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, August 3, 2019

2. Bridge and Marker

1.9 miles away).

Mr. Bradbury’s Bridge image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, August 3, 2019

3. Mr. Bradbury’s Bridge

Bridge and Bike Path image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, August 3, 2019

4. Bridge and Bike Path

The stairs are beyond the bridge on the right.

Bridge and Pacific Electric Railway image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Alan Weeks, 1951

5. Bridge and Pacific Electric Railway

Puente Largo Bridge image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, August 3, 2019

6. Puente Largo Bridge

Located two miles east of the marker. Built in 1907. The steel section at left was added after flood damage in 1938.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 6, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 1,649 times since then and 94 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on August 6, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.