Kanauga in Gallia County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The Silver Bridge Disaster
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Silver Bridge Memorial

The Silver Bridge Disaster side of the marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Nate Davidson, March 26, 2006

1. The Silver Bridge Disaster side of the marker

Inscription.

The Silver Bridge Disaster, also, Silver Bridge Memorial. . The Silver Bridge Disaster. On December 15, 1967, about one mile downstream from this historic marker, a national tragedy occured. Forty-six interstate travelers lost their lives when the Silver Bridge collapsed into the Ohio River during five o'clock rush hour traffic. The 2,235 foot two-way vehicular bridge connected Point Pleasant, West Virginia and Kanauga, Ohio via U.S. Route 35. The West Virginia Ohio River Bridge Company built the structure in 1928 for $1.2 million. The bridge, unique in its engineering conception, was the first of its design in America and the second in the world. Instead of woven-wire cable, the bridge was suspended on heat-treated eye-bar chains. It was named the "Silver Bridge" because it was the first in the world to be painted with aluminum paint. In 1969, two years later, its replacement, the Silver Memorial Bridge, was dedicated., Silver Bridge Memorial 25th Anniversary. In memory of the forty-six people who lost their lives in the Silver Bridge Disaster December 15, 1967., Ohio E. Albert Adler, Jr. . Kristy Ann Boggs . Marjorie S. Boggs . Thomas Allen Cantrell . Donna Jean Casey . Horace Donald Cremeans . Alonzo Darst . James William Hawkins . Bobby L. Head . Forest Raymond Higley . Alva Bernard Lane . Thomas Howard Lee . James Richard Maxwell . Darlene Mayes . Gerald McManus . Frederick Dean Miller . Ronnie G. Moore . James Otto Pullen . Ronald R. Sims . Charles Thomas Smith . Oma Frey Smith . Maxine E. Sturgeon, West Virginia Cathereine L. Byus . Hilda Gertrude Byus . Kimberly Lynn Byus . Melvin A. Cantrell . Cecil Counts . Alma Louise Duff . James Franklin Meadows . James Timothy Meadows . Nora Isabelle Nibert . Darius E. Northup . Leo Otto Sanders . Denzil Ray Taylor . Glenna Mae Taylor . Maxine Turner . Victor William Turner . Marvin Lendy Wamsley . Lillian Eleanor Wedge . Paul Dencil Wedge . James Alfred White, Virginia Leo Blackman . Robert Eugene Towe, North Carolina Julius Oliver Bennett . Harold David Cundiff . Gene Harold Mabe

The Silver Bridge Disaster On December 15, 1967, about one mile downstream from this historic marker, a national tragedy occured. Forty-six interstate travelers lost their lives when the Silver Bridge collapsed into the Ohio River during five o'clock rush hour traffic. The 2,235 foot two-way vehicular bridge connected Point Pleasant, West Virginia and Kanauga, Ohio via U.S. Route 35. The West Virginia Ohio River Bridge Company built the structure in 1928 for $1.2 million. The bridge, unique in its engineering conception, was the first of its design in America and the second in the world. Instead of woven-wire cable, the bridge was suspended on heat-treated eye-bar chains. It was named the "Silver Bridge" because it was the first in the world to be painted with aluminum paint. In 1969, two years later, its replacement, the Silver Memorial Bridge, was dedicated.

Silver Bridge Memorial
25th Anniversary In memory of the forty-six people who lost their lives in the Silver Bridge Disaster December 15, 1967.

Ohio
E. Albert Adler, Jr. • Kristy Ann Boggs • Marjorie S. Boggs • Thomas Allen Cantrell • Donna Jean Casey • Horace Donald Cremeans • Alonzo Darst • James William Hawkins • Bobby L. Head • Forest Raymond Higley • Alva Bernard Lane • Thomas

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Howard Lee • James Richard Maxwell • Darlene Mayes • Gerald McManus • Frederick Dean Miller • Ronnie G. Moore • James Otto Pullen • Ronald R. Sims • Charles Thomas Smith • Oma Frey Smith • Maxine E. Sturgeon

West Virginia
Cathereine L. Byus • Hilda Gertrude Byus • Kimberly Lynn Byus • Melvin A. Cantrell • Cecil Counts • Alma Louise Duff • James Franklin Meadows • James Timothy Meadows • Nora Isabelle Nibert • Darius E. Northup • Leo Otto Sanders • Denzil Ray Taylor • Glenna Mae Taylor • Maxine Turner • Victor William Turner • Marvin Lendy Wamsley • Lillian Eleanor Wedge • Paul Dencil Wedge • James Alfred White

Virginia
Leo Blackman • Robert Eugene Towe

North Carolina
Julius Oliver Bennett • Harold David Cundiff • Gene Harold Mabe

Erected 1992 by Gallia County Historical Society O. O. McIntyre Park District and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 8-27.)

Topics and series. This historical marker and memorial is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Disasters • Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list. A significant historical date for this entry is December 15, 1967.

Location. 38° 51.851′ N, 82° 8.54′

Silver Bridge Memorial side of the marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Nate Davidson, March 25, 2006

2. Silver Bridge Memorial side of the marker

This marker lists the names of all those who died due to the bridge collapse.

W. Marker is in Kanauga, Ohio, in Gallia County. It can be reached from Ohio Route 7 0.1 miles north of Georges Creek Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1904 Route 7, Gallipolis OH 45631, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker and memorial is in the American Midwest,

in the Ohio River Valley,

in Appalachia,

and in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Silver Bridge Eye-Bar (here, next to this marker); Silver Bridge Collapse and Creation of National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS) (a few steps from this marker); Medal of Honor Park (approx. one mile away in West Virginia); 1009 Main Street (approx. 1.1 miles away in West Virginia); 1003 Main Street (approx. 1.1 miles away in West Virginia); 1002 Main Street (approx. 1.1 miles away in West Virginia); Kellian V. Whaley (approx. 1.1 miles away in West Virginia); 915 Viand Street (approx. 1.1 miles away in West Virginia).

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

Also see . . . Silver Bridge Collapse - YouTube. (Submitted on January 6, 2011, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland.)

Additional keywords. Mothman

Mothman of Point Pleasant image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Nate Davidson, March 25, 2006

3. Mothman of Point Pleasant

Across the river in the town of Point Pleasant stands this statue of The Mothman. Beginning approximately 14 months prior to the Silver Bridge collapse, this strange creature and other paranormal events (including UFOs and Men in Black) were seen and experienced in and around the town of Point Pleasant. In all there were 100s of sightings, which all mysteriously ceased after the collapse of the Silver Bridge. Many people believe that either the Mothman was responsible or that its appearance was a warning for the impending disaster. In Point Pleasant there is also a museum dedicated to the history of the Mothman

The Silver Bridge Disaster Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Doda, December 25, 2021

4. The Silver Bridge Disaster Marker

Photographed by Craig Doda, December 25, 2021

5. The Silver Bridge Disaster Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on April 15, 2024. It was originally submitted on January 4, 2011, by Nathan Davidson of Salisbury, Maryland. This page has been viewed 2,903 times since then and 175 times this year. Last updated on April 15, 2024, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 4, 2011, by Nathan Davidson of Salisbury, Maryland. 4, 5. submitted on January 5, 2022, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.

The Silver Bridge Disaster⎯⎯⎯Silver Bridge Memorial

The Silver Bridge Disaster
⎯⎯⎯
Silver Bridge Memorial