| The
St. Paul and Pacific Railroad was one of many enterprises in which
James J. Hill, builder of the Stone Arch Bridge, had a major financial
interest. In 1867, the St. P & P RR built Minneapolis’
first cross-river railroad bridge, running from the middle of Nicollet
Island to the foot of 3rd Avenue North on the west bank, with a
shorter bridge connecting the island to the east bank.
St. P & P RR bridge, main channel
looking toward Nicollet Island; engraving 1875
By 1879, the St. P&
P RR had been taken over by the St. Paul, Minneapolis, and Manitoba
Railway, owned by Hill, which built the great Stone Arch Bridge
in 1883. In 1893, the SPMM rebuilt the main-channel bridge as
a beam span on stone piers. This was remodeled in 1926, and the
east channel bridge was also replaced with a beam span at that
time. In 1963, in conjunction with the extension of navigation
above St. Anthony Falls, one pier and two beams were removed and
replaced with a Petit truss to allow greater clearance for navigation.
Further modifications were made to the west-bank abutments of
the bridge when
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1874 map showing Nicollet Island at center
with St. P & P RR bridge crossing island
St. P & P RR bridge, east channel, with Nicollet Island at left,
ca. 1875
Aerial view of river, looking upstream with Nicollet Island at right;
second St. P & P RR main-channel bridge at rear, 1938. 3rd and
Hennepin Avenue bridges in foreground. |
