Portland in Ionia County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Railroad River Crossing
Railroads were vital to early residents for receiving goods and moving local produce to market. The first train into Portland arrived in November 1869. In 1881, in addition to freight trains, there were six passenger trains daily, three in each direction.
This steel bridge was in use by 1881. It replaced the wooden bridge built in 1869.
When ice jams and spring floods threatened the bridge, loaded railroad cars were pushed onto the bridge to hold it in place.
The last train through Portland crossed this bridge in 1984.
Erected by Portland Area Historical Society.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical month for this entry is November 1869.
Location. 42° 52.421′ N, 84° 54.156′ W. Marker is in Portland, Michigan, in Ionia County. It is on Portland Riverwalk south of Morse Drive, on the right when traveling south. Marker is on a boulder at the bridge's north end. Portland Riverwalk is pedestrian-only. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Portland MI 48875, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in West Michigan and in Greater Grand Rapids. It is also in the American Midwest and on the Great Lakes. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Portland Iraqi and Enduring Freedom Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Portland Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Portland 9/11 Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); City of Portland / Portland Downtown Historic District (approx. Ό mile away); Joshua Simmons II (approx. 5.9 miles
this page online
Also see . . . Portland Railroad Bridge. Historic Bridges website entry:
Details and photographs of the bridge, built by Detroit Bridge and Iron Works. (Submitted on May 24, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
Photographed by Nathan Bierma, August 14, 2024
2. Railroad River Crossing Marker
Photographed by Nathan Bierma, August 14, 2024
3. Railroad River Crossing Marker at the north end of the bridge
Photographed by Nathan Bierma, August 14, 2024
4. Railroad River Crossing Marker at the north end of the bridge
cmh2315fl via Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0), August 1, 2011
5. Old railroad bridge over Grand River
The bridge is now part of the Portland Riverwalk, a greenway on the former railbed.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 15, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 24, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 277 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on May 24, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 15, 2024, by Nathan Bierma of Grand Rapids, Michigan. 5. submitted on May 24, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
