Near Comstock in Val Verde County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Pecos High Bridge

Pecos River High Bridge Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Richard Denney

1. Pecos River High Bridge Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Southern Pacific Railroad was first to cross Pecos River ( 1891) with High Bridge. At that time, it was world’s longest (2,180 ft) and highest (321 ft. above water) railroad bridge.

In June 1923, the Texas Highway Department constructed a bridge (50 ft. above water) to replace old canyon-bottom crossing. This bridge was washed away, 1954, and was replaced by two low-water interim bridges, the second of which washed out the day the present bridge was dedicated.

This bridge, 1310 ft long, is the highest in Texas – 273 ft. above river’s normal water line.

Erected 1970 by State Historical Survey Committee.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Natural Features • Notable Places • Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the Southern Pacific Railroad series list. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1923.

Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. 29° 42.371′ N, 101° 21.201′

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W. Marker is near Comstock, Texas, in Val Verde County. Marker can be reached from U.S. 90. From Del Rio, take US 90 about 45-50 miles west to the bridge. The roadside park/scenic view area is at the end of Park Rd. 67 which is accessible off US 90 approximately 0.2 mile east of the bridge. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Comstock TX 78837, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 14 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies. Medal of Honor Fight, 1875 (here, next to this marker); Pecos River High Bridge (here, next to this marker); The Pecos River in Literature and Folklore (a few steps from this marker); Near Site, Southern Pacific Ceremony of Silver Spike (approx. 4.6 miles away); Site of Vinegarroon (approx. 4.6 miles away); Railroad Bridges Over the Pecos (approx. 4.6 miles away); Eagle’s Nest (approx. 14 miles away); Robert Thomas Hill (approx. 14 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Comstock.

Regarding Pecos High Bridge. A replacement marker was erected by the Texas Historical Commission in 1996. Please see the Pecos River High Bridge Marker in the "Other nearby markers" section above.

Also see . . . Horsehead Crossing on the Pecos. The steep walls of the Pecos formed a natural barrier for man and animals in prehistoric and historic times. The

Pecos High Bridge image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Richard Denney, circa March 1987

2. Pecos High Bridge

View from marker area, east of the Pecos, looking upriver to the northeast. Just southwest of here the Pecos empties into the Rio Grande.

most famous crossing of the Pecos is about a hundred+ miles upriver from here, known as Horsehead Crossing. (Submitted on February 25, 2010, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas.)

Additional keywords. McCloud B. Hodges, engineer

View from marker down canyon to where Pecos meets the Rio Grande image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Richard Denney, March 23, 2008

3. View from marker down canyon to where Pecos meets the Rio Grande

Mexico in distance

Southern Pacific Railroad image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Richard Denney, circa March 1987

4. Southern Pacific Railroad

Nearby hillside cuts made for Southern Pacific Railroad tracks on approach to the Pecos.

Blasting Powder Can image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Richard Denney

5. Blasting Powder Can

The end of a blasting powder can. Blasting powder would have been used for blasting railroad cuts through hillsides.

"Pecos River High Bridge" image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Richard E. Miller, August 10, 2010

6. "Pecos River High Bridge"

The shelter at the scenic view pull-off - the High Bridge is visible in the distance. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Richard E. Miller, August 9, 2010

7. The shelter at the scenic view pull-off - the High Bridge is visible in the distance.

"From this point you can see the mouth of the Pecos River, the Rio Grande and hills in Old Mexico" image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Richard E. Miller, August 9, 2010

8. "From this point you can see the mouth of the Pecos River, the Rio Grande and hills in Old Mexico"

signage at the south end of the scenic view rest stop.

View to the south of the High Bridge - the confluence of the Pecos and Rio Grande with hills in the image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Richard E. Miller, August 9, 2010

9. View to the south of the High Bridge - the confluence of the Pecos and Rio Grande with hills in the

Mexican state of Coahuila on the horizon.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 4, 2021. It was originally submitted on February 24, 2010, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. This page has been viewed 2,686 times since then and 89 times this year. Last updated on September 9, 2010, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 24, 2010, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. 3. submitted on May 15, 2010, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. 4. submitted on February 24, 2010, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. 5. submitted on February 25, 2010, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. 6, 7, 8, 9. submitted on September 8, 2010, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.