Near Killdeer in Dunn County, North Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Lost Bridge of the Badlands

Killdeer Mountain Four Bears Scenic Byway

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer

1. Lost Bridge of the Badlands Marker

Caption: (right center) "Badlands" is a term used to refer to a sparsely-vegetated landscape with a high rate of erosion. The Little Missouri River has cut its way downward through the walls of this canyon at a rate of about an inch per century.

Inscription. More than a few ranchers have probably had to look for a lost cow in this country, but few people would suppose that even the world's most famous badlands were a place where you could lose a bridge. A new bridge was built just downstream from here in 1931. A grand opening was scheduled for July 4, timed to coincide with the Killdeer Mountain Roundup Rodeo. The governor was to orate, military maneuvers held, and a small orchestra was to play for dancing on the bridge, But torrential rain forced postponement, and many people left before the festivities were held the next day (in a sea of mud).
Bad luck continued. the roads leading to the bridge were supposed to be paved, but the onset of the Great Depression left no money available for construction. Locals dubbed the modern highway bridge with only dirt roads leading to it "Lost Bridge", and the name stuck. The approach roads were graded and graveled in 1953, then paved in 1968. The original structure was replaced in the 1990's.

Written in Stone
(black arrow) Deposits of lignite coal formed from vegetation that grew in the swamps found here 50-60 million years

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ago.
(red arrow) The reddish material called "scoria" results when a layer of coal burns and bakes the clay above it.
(grey arrow) The grayish layers in the canyon walls are formed from volcanic ash.
(white arrow) The cream-colored layers are sandstone, siltstone, and other rocks formed in bodies of water.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Bridges & Viaducts.

Location. 47° 35.336′ N, 102° 45.864′ W. Marker is near Killdeer, North Dakota, in Dunn County. It is on State Highway 22 at milepost 126 near County Road 14, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Killdeer ND 58640, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Dakota’s Bakken Oil Patch

and on the Missouri Plateau.

It is also in the American Lewis & Clark Corridor,

on the prairies,

and on the Northern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Lost Bridge of the Badlands Marker (detail) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer

2. Lost Bridge of the Badlands Marker (detail)

Map of the Killdeer Mountain Four Bears Scenic Byway

Other nearby markers. At least 2 other markers are within 14 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Mountain of the Medicine Hole (approx. 13.1 miles away); Killdeer Mountain (approx. 13.4 miles away).

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, February 3, 2011

3. Lost Bridge of the Badlands Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on July 31, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 31, 2024, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 423 times since then and 99 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 31, 2024, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.