Sioux Falls in Minnehaha County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Yankton Trail Bridge
After the slaying of Judge Amidon and his son William during the Dakota Conflict of 1862, the entire population and their cavalry escort fled Sioux Falls City and crossed the river at this point. Later federal troops used this ford when traveling between Fort Dakota (1865-1869) and Fort Randall.
A ferry was established here in 1880. Three years later local carpenter Leonard Cashman built the first bridge, a primitive wooden affair, at this crossing.
Builder S. M. Hewett constructed the Yankton Trail Bridge in 1895. A rare example of a pin-connected Parker Through-Truss bridge, it is an elongated rectangular steel span, 177 feet long by 21 feet wide. Originally used by horse-drawn wagons and buggies traveling the Yankton Trail, its roadway was a wood plank floor.
The Old Yankton Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.
Erected 2007 by the Minnehaha County Historical Society, Kameron & Nancy Carlson, and Woods, Fuller, Shultz & Smith P.C.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Bridges & Viaducts • Roads & Vehicles • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1880.
Location. 43° 30.058′ N, 96° 45.072′ W. Marker is in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in Minnehaha County. Marker is on West 57th Street north of Old Yankton Circle, on the right when traveling west. Located in Farm Field Park by the Old Yankton Bridge. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Sioux Falls SD 57108, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Great Bend (here, next to this marker); South Dakota Achieve (approx. 0.3 miles away); "Mr. Soccer" Manfred Szameit (approx. 0.6 miles away); Wallner Gardens (approx. 0.6 miles away); Sertoma Park (approx. 0.6 miles away); Soo Skyways Airport (approx. ¾ mile away); Abraham Lincoln (approx. 0.9 miles away); Ronald Reagan (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sioux Falls.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 3, 2021. It was originally submitted on December 2, 2021. This page has been viewed 454 times since then and 61 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on December 2, 2021. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.