Near New Amsterdam in La Crosse County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The McGilvray "Seven Bridges Road"

Photographed by Keith L, October 7, 2009

1. The McGilvray "Seven Bridges Road" Marker

Inscription. In the early 1850s Scottish immigrant Alexander McGilvray established a small settlement and ferry service, both known as "McGilvray's Ferry," along the Black River. For the next forty years the ferry made seasonal river crossings despite frequent log jams. Local citizens repeatedly petitioned for a more dependable means to cross the river, and in 1892 La Crosse County erected the first in a series of wooden bridges on McGilvray Road. Unfortunately, the river's marshy waters and frequent floods soon rotted the wood. From 1905 through 1908, the La Crosse Bridge and Steel Company erected a series of steel bridges. Designed and patented by Charles M. Horton, these bowstring arch truss bridges incorporated "hook-clips" instead of rivets to fasten and strengthen structural members. Five of these rare bowstring truss bridges are found on McGilvray Road and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1975 the bridges became part of the Van Loon Wildlife Area. In 1997 an additional historic truss bridge was moved to this location.

Erected 1997 by the Wisconsin Historical Society. (Marker Number 350.)

Topics and series.

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This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Roads & Vehicles • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Wisconsin Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1892.

Location. 44° 1.274′ N, 91° 18.36′ W. Marker is near New Amsterdam, Wisconsin, in La Crosse County. It is on Amsterdam Prairie Road 1½ miles north of Great River Road (State Highway 35), on the left when traveling north. Marker is along the shoulder of Amsterdam Prairie Road (Rustic Road 64). Parking lot and bridges are beyond the marker. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Holmen WI 54636, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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

in the Corn Belt,

in the Driftless Area — Bluff Country,

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

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least

Photographed by Keith L, October 7, 2009

2. The McGilvray "Seven Bridges Road" Marker

8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Decorah Peak (approx. 3½ miles away); Downtown Galesville Historic District (approx. 4.8 miles away); Galesville (approx. 4.8 miles away); Galesville Bridge (approx. 4.9 miles away); John F. Cance / Galesville Area Veterans Memorial (approx. 5 miles away); Ridge Avenue Historic District (approx. 5 miles away); Gale College Historic District (approx. 5 miles away); Half Way Creek Parsonage Site (approx. 5½ miles away).

Also see . . . McGilvray/7 bridges Road web site. (Submitted on April 17, 2012, by Linda McMullin of Mindoro, Wisconsin.)

Nearby Plaques image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Keith L, October 7, 2009

3. Nearby Plaques

Van Loon Area Truss Bridge Group has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior · 1980.

This property is listed in the Wisconsin State Register of Historic Places · The State Historical Society of Wisconsin.

Photographed by Keith L, October 7, 2009

4. Nearby Sign

Van Loon Wildlife Area · 6 square miles managed for wildlife recreation · [Wisconsin] Department of Natural Resources.

Old McGilvray Road image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Keith L, October 7, 2009

5. Old McGilvray Road

Approaching Bridge #1 on Old McGilvray Road.
Structure #80000146

Bridge #1 on Old McGilvray Road image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Keith L, October 7, 2009

6. Bridge #1 on Old McGilvray Road

Photographed by Keith L, October 7, 2009

7. Old McGilvray Road

Approaching Bridge #2 on Old McGilvray Road.

Bridge #2 on Old McGilvray Road image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Keith L, October 7, 2009

8. Bridge #2 on Old McGilvray Road

Structure #80000147

Two Span Low Steel Bowstring Arch Truss on Bridge #2 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Keith L, October 7, 2009

9. Two Span Low Steel Bowstring Arch Truss on Bridge #2

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on October 14, 2009, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 3,067 times since then and 66 times this year. Last updated on April 17, 2012, by Linda McMullin of Mindoro, Wisconsin. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. submitted on October 14, 2009, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.