Near Tampico in Valley County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
The Old Milk River Bridge and Tampico
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 15, 2019
1. The Old Milk River Bridge and Tampico Marker
Inscription.
The Old Milk River Bridge and Tampico. . For over ninety years, residents of this area were served by a large steel truss bridge that crossed the Milk River just northeast of here. Built in 1911 by the Illinois Steel Bridge Company of Jacksonville, Illinois, the structure was one of at least six bridges built by the firm in Valley County between 1910 and 1913. This bridge conveyed ranchers and homesteaders living north of the river to the community of Tampico. Established as a water stop on the Great Northern Railway’s main line in the late 1890s, Tampico boomed with the arrival of hundreds of homesteaders to the area beginning in 1910. At its height about 1917, Tampico boasted a population of over 50 people and a substantial business district. By the early Twenties, the town was located on the Theodore Roosevelt International Highway, a route that was eventually re-named U.S. Highway 2. A 1921 guidebook to the highway stated there were good camping sites along the Milk River on the north side of the road near the old bridge. The old highway still exists as a county road on the northeast side of the railroad tracks.
For over ninety years, residents of this area were served by a large steel truss bridge that crossed the Milk River just northeast of here. Built in 1911 by the Illinois Steel Bridge Company of Jacksonville, Illinois, the structure was one of at least six bridges built by the firm in Valley County between 1910 and 1913. This bridge conveyed ranchers and homesteaders living north of the river to the community of Tampico. Established as a water stop on the Great Northern Railway’s main line in the late 1890s, Tampico boomed with the arrival of hundreds of homesteaders to the area beginning in 1910. At its height about 1917, Tampico boasted a population of over 50 people and a substantial business district. By the early Twenties, the town was located on the Theodore Roosevelt International Highway, a route that was eventually re-named U.S. Highway 2. A 1921 guidebook to the highway stated there were good camping sites along the Milk River on the north side of the road near the old bridge. The old highway still exists as a county road on the northeast side of the railroad tracks.
Erected by Montana Department of Transportation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Bridges & Viaducts.
Location. 48° 18.446′
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N, 106° 49.47′ W. Marker is near Tampico, Montana, in Valley County. Marker is at the intersection of Tampico North Road and Vandalia Road (County Highway 246) on Tampico North Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Glasgow MT 59230, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 3 other markers are within 12 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Liquid Gold (approx. 4.6 miles away); The Ice Ages (approx. 4.6 miles away); First National Bank of Glasgow (approx. 11.7 miles away).
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 15, 2019
2. The Old Milk River Bridge and Tampico and Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on November 25, 2019. It was originally submitted on November 25, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 167 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on November 25, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
