Hastings in Dakota County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Hastings Spiral Bridge
Erected 1895 • Demolished 1951
Photographed By K. Linzmeier, October 24, 2011
1. Hastings Spiral Bridge Marker
April 27 1895 eight thousand people commemorated the opening of the new "High Wagon Bridge" across the Mississippi River.
It was built in seven months at a cost of $39,050 by the Wisconsin Bridge and Iron Works of Milwaukee, replacing the inadequate rope ferry which served the city of 3,848 people and its trade area.
Four men claim credit for its design. The traditional straight approach by-passed the business area, thus this spiral ramp deposited off-coming traffic at the foot of Sibley Street half a block from the city's commercial district.
Motorized heavier traffic required a new bridge completed in 1951, at a cost of $2,500,000. Efforts to save the spiral approach failed.
Minnesota Bridge 4820
Bridge proper — Baltimore truss with curved top chord
Total bridge length — 1987 feet
Length of Earth approach — 120 feet
Length of spiral approach — 385 feet
Height of spiral approach — 60 feet
Length of channel span — 380 feet
Roadway width — 18 feet
Sidewalk width — 4½ feet with 8 inch elevation above road on east side
Load limit — 256½ tons
Total cost —
this page online
Completed — April 17, 1895
Demolished — 1951
Erected by the Hastings Bicentennial Commission
Dedicated May 31 1976
Erected 1976 by the Hastings Bicentennial Commission.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Bridges & Viaducts. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1907.
Location. 44° 44.71′ N, 92° 51.064′ W. Marker is in Hastings, Minnesota, in Dakota County. Marker is on Sibley Street north of East 2nd Street (Main Street), on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Hastings MN 55033, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. American Legion Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Spiral Bridge (within shouting distance of this marker); Mississippi (within shouting distance of this marker); Finch Building (within shouting distance of this marker); The Pringle Hardware Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Downtown Develops (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Veterans Memorial Levee (about 300 feet away); Gardner House Hotel (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hastings.
Regarding Hastings Spiral Bridge. A ¼ scale replica of the bridge is located 8 miles south of the marker.
Photographed By K. Linzmeier, October 24, 2011
2. Hastings Spiral Bridge Marker
Also see . . .
1. Spiral Bridge Replica. "When built, this was the only spiral wagon and automobile bridge in the US, and only 2 are known to have been built in Europe." (Submitted on November 20, 2011.)
2. Spiral bridge. Wikipedia entry. (Submitted on November 20, 2011.)
3. Hastings High Bridge. Wikipedia entry. (Submitted on November 20, 2011.)
Photographed By K. Linzmeier, October 24, 2011
3. Hastings Spiral Bridge Marker
Photographed By K. Linzmeier, October 24, 2011
4. Former Location of the Spiral Bridge
Photographed By K. Linzmeier, October 24, 2011
5. U.S. 61 Hastings High Bridge
Photographed By K. Linzmeier, October 24, 2011
6. Smaller Scale Replica Bridge
Photographed By K. Linzmeier, October 24, 2011
7. Smaller Scale Replica Bridge
Photographed By K. Linzmeier, October 24, 2011
8. Smaller Scale Replica Bridge
Photographed By K. Linzmeier, October 24, 2011
9. Smaller Scale Replica Bridge
Credits. This page was last revised on June 7, 2021. It was originally submitted on November 20, 2011, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,519 times since then and 44 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. submitted on November 20, 2011, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin.
