The Interstate toll bridge was built between 1896 and 1897, dedicated on July 13, 1897, with more than 4,000 spectators and dignitaries participating or looking on. It connected Rice's Point of Duluth with Connor's Point of Superior, Wisconsin. It was property of the Duluth-Superior Bridge Company, a subsidiary of the Great Northern Railroad. It closed to use on December 3, 1961, the day after the toll-free High Bridge opened. The Interstate bridge was replaced by the High Bridge or the Blatnik Bridge as it was renamed September 24, 1971. The Interstate bridge was struck by vessels and damaged more than once. Considerable damage was sustained in 1906 and 1924.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Image of new steel bridge over Beaver River near Beaver Bay, Minnesota. Completed during the Trunk Highway 1 project, now known as Scenic Highway 61. A second, older bridge appears beneath the new bridge. Grand opening of the highway was celebrated in 1925, construction north of Two Harbors began 1922.
Newly constructed steel railroad bridge (Black Bridge), and old wooden trestle in background. The wooden bridge was built in about 1879 when the railroad came to Jackson and Lakefield, Minnesota.
Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railroad Bridge. The Black Bridge spans the Des Moines River and was located west of Jackson, Minnesota. The bridge was built in 1900 to replace the original wood bridge.
This postcard shows a view of the Broadway Bridge across the Minnesota River at St. Peter. This swing bridge, used from 1887 to 1929, could be turned in order to allow the passage of riverboats.
A view (for a 1961 Photo Contest) of the Duluth-Superior high bridge's first span being lowered into place after construction began two years before on November 28, 1958.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
View of the collapsed bridge after the well-drillling rig broke through while crossing on April 18, 1914. Notice the horse and wagon in the river. A few days before this, Marie Binger Bailey's uncle, Bernard Binger, had crossed the bridge with two loads of lumber. His daughter wrote: "The Angels are here."
Bridge crossed the dry creek bed of Minnehaha Creek after a long dry spell. Writer watched for President Taft to cross the bridge in an auto during his visit to Minneapolis, but missed seeing him, dated November 12, 1909.
Image of a group of men leveling the ground behind a steam powered machine. A man appears in the foreground, seated on a second piece of equipment. Bridge over the Beaver River near Beaver Bay, Minnesota. Completed during the Trunk Highway 1 project, now known as Scenic Highway 61.
Two railroad bridges crossing the Mississippi River, including the Stone Arch Bridge. A man is standing along the bank and the milling district is visible in the background.
This postcard mainly shows the vehicle bridge over Spring Lake, east of St. Peter. However, some of the piers of the railroad bridge beyond can also be seen. East is at left.
This is a view of the west end of the Broadway Bridge over the Minnesota River at St. Peter, along Highway 99. The bridge was completed about 1930. This postcard negative, marked 3709, has been converted to a digital positive image.
This photograph shows the Broadway Bridge over the Minnesota River at St. Peter in 1908, a year of extensive flooding along the river. The bridge was constructed in order to permit it to turn to allow the passage of riverboats. It spanned the river from about 1887 to about 1930. Notice the two grain elevators in the distance in Le Sueur County.
This image shows the Broadway Bridge over the Minnesota River at St. Peter. This postcard negative, marked 4199, has been converted to a digital positive image.
This postcard shows the Broadway bridge over the Minnesota river at St. Peter. In the foreground is the western end of the bridge. A portion of the bridge deck collapsed in 1929 as a truck was being driven across it, leading to the construction of a new bridge at the same site.
This postcard shows a view of the Broadway Bridge over the Minnesota River at St. Peter. The top portion of a grain elevator east of the river is visible.
This postcard shows a view of the Broadway Bridge over the Minnesota River at St. Peter. A grain elevator, the railroad depot, and a train pulled by a steam locomotive are visible in the distance.
This postcard shows a view of the Broadway Bridge over the Minnesota River. The photo was taken from a location on the west side of the river, north of the bridge, at the time of a flood.
This photograph shows people standing on the Broadway Bridge in St. Peter in April of 1897 at the time of a Minnesota River flood. Two grain elevators are visible to the east beyond the bridge.
This photograph shows the Broadway Bridge over the Minnesota River at St. Peter. The swing bridge, which was used from 1887 to 1929, is shown in the open position.
This postcard shows a view of the Broadway bridge over the Minnesota River in St. Peter. The building in the distance is on the east side of the river.