Carlyle in Clinton County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The General Dean Suspension Bridge

Photographed by Duane Hall, October 13, 2016

1. The General Dean Suspension Bridge Marker

Inscription. This bridge was built in 1859 at a cost of $40,000 and used for nearly seventy years. Previously, travelers at Carlyle crossed the Kaskaskia by ferry or on a mud bridge supported by logs. The Historic American Buildings Survey recognized the architectural significance of this bridge in 1950 and recommended its preservation. In 1951 the State Legislature appropriated $20,000 for restoration work. The bridge was named in honor of Major General William F. Dean, a Korean War hero and Carlyle native, in 1953. As of 1976 this was the only suspension bridge in Illinois.

Erected 1976 by Carlyle Junior Woman’s Club and the Illinois State Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Bridges & Viaducts. In addition, it is included in the Historic American Buildings Survey, and the Illinois State Historical Society series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1859.

Location. 38° 36.672′ N, 89° 21.475′ W. Marker is in Carlyle, Illinois, in Clinton County. It is at the intersection of 1st Street and Fairfax Street, on the right when traveling north on 1st Street. Marker is located 200 feet east of 1st Street at the west end of the bridge. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Carlyle IL 62231, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southern Illinois — Little Egypt

and in Greater St. Louis.

It is also in the American Midwest

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

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least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: General Dean Suspension Bridge Display (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Goshen Road (about 400 feet away); Clinton County American Pisoners of War (approx. 0.6 miles away); Eternal Memory (approx. 0.9 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 3.8 miles away); Buxton - Beckemeyer Mural (approx. 4.2 miles away); Centralia Coal Company Mine No. 5 Disaster (approx. 4.2 miles away); a different marker also named Veterans Memorial (approx. 4.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Carlyle.

Also see . . . Suspension Bridge, Spanning Kaskaskia River, Carlyle, Clinton County, IL (HABS). (Submitted on October 19, 2016.)

Marker at West End of General Dean Suspension Bridge image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, October 13, 2016

2. Marker at West End of General Dean Suspension Bridge

View to east from 1st Street

<i>BRIDGE PYLONS - EAST END - Suspension Bridge, Spanning Kaskaskia River, Carlyle...</i> image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Clark Bullard, 1936

3. BRIDGE PYLONS - EAST END - Suspension Bridge, Spanning Kaskaskia River, Carlyle...

Photograph courtesy of the Historic American Buildings Survey.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 19, 2016. It was originally submitted on October 19, 2016, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. This page has been viewed 718 times since then and 67 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 19, 2016, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. 3. submitted on October 19, 2016.