Milton in Santa Rosa County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Marquis Bayou Bridge

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 8, 2016

1. Marquis Bayou Bridge Marker

Inscription. The Marquis Bayou Bridge, named for George Marquis, the owner of a local saw mill that operated in the mid-1800s, opened in 1937. A Santa Rosa County delegation that included future Florida Governor Millard Caldwell helped to make the bridge a reality. The bridge was designed by the Florida State Road Department, and Federal funds, some from the Works Progress Administration, were used in the bridge’s construction. Tidewater Construction Company, George D. Auchter Construction Company, and Duval Engineering & Construction Company helped to build the bridge, which provided an economic boost to Milton during the Great Depression. The Marquis Bayou Bridge was a two-lane, reinforced concrete T-beam bridge with a slight curve and a single sidewalk on the north side. Its historic cast concrete railings with distinctive vertical, oval openings were typical of 1920s – 30s bridges but few remain in Florida. When the need arose for a new bridge, the Florida Department of Transportation worked closely with the community to design this new two-lane bridge on the same alignment and incorporating some of the historic railings

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from the original bridge.

Erected 2013 by Florida Department of Transportation and the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-782.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Charity & Public Work • Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Works Progress Administration (WPA) projects series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1937.

Location. 30° 37.647′ N, 87° 1.803′ W. Marker is in Milton, Florida, in Santa Rosa County. It is on U.S. 90 0.1 miles west of Bayou Drive, on the right when traveling west. Marker is located at the west end of the bridge, on the north side. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Milton FL 32583, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Pensacola

and on the Florida Panhandle.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Marquis Bayou Bridge Marker (<i><b>wide view</i></b>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 8, 2016

2. Marquis Bayou Bridge Marker (wide view)

Wide view of marker looking southeast across the bridge

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Freedom Of The Press (approx. 0.4 miles away); Santa Rosa County Veterans Memorial Plaza (approx. 0.4 miles away); National Guard Of The United States (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Liberty Tree (approx. 0.4 miles away); The War of Independence (approx. 0.4 miles away); Combat Wounded Veterans (approx. 0.4 miles away); The War Of 1812 (approx. 0.4 miles away); Wall of Tears (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Milton.

Regarding Marquis Bayou Bridge. The original Marquis Bayou Bridge, built between 1936 and 1937, was replaced between 2013 and 2015 with the current, modern bridge. In addition to the 1937 bridge across Marquis Bayou, Milton hosts two other examples of significant WPA projects - the old Milton Post Office and its George Snow Hill mural. For his mural, Hill chose to depict the Lumber Industry, which had been the backbone

Marquis Bayou Bridge image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 8, 2016

3. Marquis Bayou Bridge

East end of bridge with original construction date (1937) and bridge railing sections honoring the original bridge construction. This portion of the new bridge, on the north side, is a pedestrian/bicycle walkway.

of Santa Rosa County for over 100 years.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 8, 2016

4. Marquis Bayou Bridge Marker

West end of bridge with new construction date (2015) and bridge railing sections honoring the original bridge construction. This portion of the new bridge, on the north side, is a pedestrian/bicycle walkway.

Marquis Bayou Bridge (<i><b>long view</i></b>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 8, 2016

5. Marquis Bayou Bridge (long view)

Long view of bridge from the east, showing curvature and pedestrian/bicycle path on both sides of the bridge.

Marquis Bayou & Houseboat image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 8, 2016

6. Marquis Bayou & Houseboat

View of Marquis Bayou and houseboat, looking north from the Marquis Bayou Bridge.

Former Milton Post Office Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 7, 2016

7. Former Milton Post Office Building

(another Milton WPA project)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 20, 2020. It was originally submitted on October 3, 2016, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,256 times since then and 90 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on October 3, 2016, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 7. submitted on March 20, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.