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.