Pakenham in Mississippi Mills in Lanark County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Five-Span Stone Bridge

The Seven Wonders of Lanark County

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., May 13, 2025

1. Five-Span Stone Bridge Marker

Inscription.
Welcome to Pakenham's five-span stone bridge - one of the Seven Wonders of Lanark County.

It was built in 1901 by O'Toole & Keating of Ottawa from locally quarried stone with the largest block weighing five tonnes. This spectacular engineering feat is comprised of five 12 m. (40') arches with piers that are 8' thick to withstand the pressure of the crashing ice flows and high water levels on the Mississippi River in the spring. Overall, it is a remarkable 82 m. (268') long, 7.5 m. (25') wide by 22' high and is the only one of its kind on the North American continent!

Be Sure to Visit All of the Seven Wonders of Lanark County:
① Five-Span Stone Bridge
Pakenham, Mississippi Mills
② St. Peter Celestine Church
Pakenham, Mississippi Mills
③ Mill of Kintail
Mississippi Mills
④ Blueberry Mountain
cliffLAND, Lanark Highlands
⑤ Showy Lady's Slipper Orchids
Purdon Conservation Area, Lanark Highlands
⑥ Silver Queen Mica Mine
Murphy's Point Provincial Park,
Tay Valley Township
⑦ Stewart Park
Perth

Erected by Lanark County Tourism. (Marker Number 1.)

Topics. This

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historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Bridges & Viaducts. A significant historical year for this entry is 1901.

Location. 45° 20.144′ N, 76° 17.183′ W. Marker is in Mississippi Mills, Ontario, in Lanark County. It is in Pakenham. It is at the intersection of Kinburn Side Road (County Highway 20) and Dark's Side Road, on the right when traveling west on Kinburn Side Road. Marker is in the Pakenham Bridge Conservation Area adjacent to the bridge's east approach. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Mississippi Mills ON K0A 2X0, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Haliburton Highlands to Ottawa Valley

and in Eastern Ontario.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Pakenham Bridge and Restoration (here, next to this marker);

Five-Span Stone Bridge and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., May 13, 2025

2. Five-Span Stone Bridge and Marker

Packenham Industry and Commerce (here, next to this marker); Pakenham's Early Growth (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Pakenham 5 Arched Stone Bridge (about 120 meters away); John Peter Levi (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Pakenham (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); 1840s General Store & Bakery (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); St. Peter Celestine Church (approx. 0.4 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mississippi Mills.

Also see . . .
1. Pakenham’s Five Span Bridge stars in local culture. (Submitted on May 20, 2025, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
2. Lanark County Tourism. (Submitted on May 20, 2025, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)

Five-Span Stone Bridge image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., May 13, 2025

3. Five-Span Stone Bridge

Looking southeast

Credits. This page was last revised on May 20, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 20, 2025, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 108 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 20, 2025, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.