Tenney-Lapham in Madison in Dane County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Sherman Avenue Crossing

Photographed by William J. Toman, June 12, 2010

1. Sherman Avenue Crossing Marker

Inscription. The original Sherman Avenue crossing over the Yahara River was a wooden bridge built by Leonard Farwell circa 1848. It was replaced in 1874. By 1904 the bridge consisted of steel beams, plates and rivets with a wooden plank deck. There are four similar bridges over the Yahara River in use today, all of which were initially constructed as railroad bridges.

This bridge was replaced in 1934 by a steel bridge with a concrete arch facade. The beams, deck and railings of the 1934 bridge were replaced in 2003 with concrete beams and facade and railing that match the 1934 construction.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1848.

Location. 43° 5.69′ N, 89° 22.187′ W. Marker is in Madison, Wisconsin, in Dane County. It is in Tenney-Lapham. It is at the intersection of Sherman Avenue and North Thornton Avenue, on the left when traveling north on Sherman Avenue. The marker is on the north end of the Yahara Bridge on the lake side of Sherman Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Madison WI 53704, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Wisconsin. It is also in the American Midwest,

on the Great Lakes,

and in the Corn Belt.

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

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Tenney Park Lock and Dam (within shouting distance of this marker); Tenney Park (approx. 0.2 miles away); Tenney Park / Daniel Tenney

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(approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Tenney Park (approx. ¼ mile away); Steensland Bridge (approx. half a mile away); Fuller & Johnson Manufacturing Co. Office Building (approx. half a mile away); a different marker also named Steensland Bridge (approx. half a mile away); Burr Jones Field (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Madison.

Photo on Sherman Avenue Crossing Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William J. Toman, June 12, 2010

2. Photo on Sherman Avenue Crossing Marker

Wisconsin Historical Society
Charles N. Brown
1904 ca.

Photographed by William J. Toman, June 12, 2010

3. Sherman Avenue Crossing Marker

Tenney Park Lock and Dam in background.

Yahara Bridge at Sherman Avenue image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William J. Toman, June 12, 2010

4. Yahara Bridge at Sherman Avenue

This is the 2003 bridge referenced in the marker.

Related Bridge image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William J. Toman, June 24, 2010

5. Related Bridge

This is one of the existing bridges referenced in the marker as being similar to the Sherman Avenue bridge as of 1904, that is, the one that "consisted of steel beams, plates and rivets."

Photographed by William J. Toman, June 24, 2010

6. Related Bridge

The former railroad bridge consisting of steel beams, plates and rivets now serves a bike path. This bridge is next to the Yahara River Parkway historical marker.

2003 Sherman Avenue Crossing image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, August 26, 2012

7. 2003 Sherman Avenue Crossing

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 22, 2010, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,260 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 22, 2010, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. 5, 6. submitted on June 24, 2010, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. 7. submitted on April 27, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.