Marble Canyon in Coconino County, Arizona — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Lafe McDaniel
Photographed By Tom Martin, September 25, 2022
1. Lafe McDaniel Marker
In memoriam to ironworker Lafe McDaniel
October 3, 1887 to June 12, 1928
The only individual to die during the construction of the Navajo Bridge, Lafe McDaniel, a well like and highly experienced Kansas City ironworker, fell from near this location to the river below.
Erected 2022.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical date for this entry is June 12, 1928.
Location. 36° 49.1′ N, 111° 37.966′ W. Marker is in Marble Canyon, Arizona, in Coconino County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Navajo Bridge and U.S. 89A, in the median. The marker is located on the Marble Canyon side of the Navajo Bridge on the downriver side of the bridge. It is 2 feet from the start of the historic bridge. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Marble Canyon AZ 86036, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Navajo Bridge (here, next to this marker); Lee's Ferry (within shouting distance of this marker); Marble Canyon Lodge (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Navajo Bridge (approx. 0.2 miles away); Lewis Nez (approx. 0.2 miles away); John Deering
this page online
Regarding Lafe McDaniel. In June of 1928, the Flagstaff side of the Navajo Bridge was well underway. In fact, that half of the bridge was almost complete with only one panel left to build. On June 12, a well liked ironworker named Lafe McDaniel fell from near the mid-river end of the bridge to the Colorado River below. His rivet crew watched him fall for 5 long seconds and hit the water some 460 feet below. The river was running about 63,000 cfs that day. His body was never recovered and no memorial marked his passing.
Lafe McDaniel worked for Kansas City Structural Steel, the bridge building and steel erecting company that won the bid to build the Navajo Bridge. McDaniel fell off the end of the Flagstaff half of the bridge when it was only one panel away from being completed, as the picture on the memorial marker shows. He left behind a wife and two stepdaughters.
Photographed By Tom Martin, September 18, 2022
2. Lafe McDaniel Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on September 27, 2022. It was originally submitted on September 25, 2022. This page has been viewed 166 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 25, 2022, by Tom Martin of Flagstaff, Arizona. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
