Cape Girardeau in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

2003

Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge

Photographed by Edward Troxel, November 16, 2024

1. 2003 Marker

Inscription.
After 15 years of planning and seven years of construction, the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge opened to traffic on December 13, 2003. The Bridge was named for BILL EMERSON, an eight-term congressman who had championed legislation that brought about the construction of this CABLE-STAYED BRIDGE. The floor of a cabled-stay bridge is held in place by cables suspended from a strong tower. At the time of its construction, it was ONE OF ONLY 34 cable-stayed bridges in the WORLD.

This new structure replaced the first bridge, which served the community for 75 YEARS. The PORTAL of the old bridge has been preserved and is a popular spot for residents and visitors. The site includes mounted binoculars for a close-up view of the Emerson Memorial Bridge, river and more.

EMERSON MEMORIAL BRIDGE More than 170 miles of cable holds up the flooring, which consists of 250 million pounds of concrete with 13 million pounds of reinforced steel in the concrete. The total weight of this bridge is estimated to be 266 million pounds.

OLD MISSISSIPPI RIVER BRIDGE SCENIC OVERLOOK AND PARK Located four blocks south of here at the corner of Morgan Oak and South Spanish St.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Bridges & Viaducts. A significant historical date for this entry is December 13, 2003.

Location.

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37° 18.211′ N, 89° 31.076′ W. Marker is in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, in Cape Girardeau County. It is at the intersection of North Water Street and Independence Street, on the left when traveling south on North Water Street. The marker stands along the Missouri Wall of Fame along the Mississippi River Front. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 18 Main St, Cape Girardeau MO 63701, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Missouri. It is also in the American Ozarks,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Artists Panel (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named 1980 (a few steps from this marker); Missouri Mule / The Wild West (within shouting distance of this marker); The Wild West (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named 1964 (within shouting distance of this marker); Lights, Camera... Actors! (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named 1958 (within shouting distance of this marker); Sports Dazzlers (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cape Girardeau.

Other markers no longer nearby. 2003 (has been replaced with this marker); The Artists (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); 1980 (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Dwarfing the Titanic

Photographed by Edward Troxel, November 16, 2024

2. 2003 Marker

(was within shouting distance of this marker but has been confirmed missing); 1964 (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Hollywood (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); 1958 (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); The Civil War / The Boys of Summer / Sports Dazzlers (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 19, 2024, by Edward Troxel of Creal Springs, Illinois. This page has been viewed 140 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 19, 2024, by Edward Troxel of Creal Springs, Illinois. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.