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
Photograph of Bear Creek Valley, near Rollingstone. Train climbing the valley on left side of photo and farm in the valley and tresel to the right of the farm.
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.
Three people on bridge in front of Minnehaha Falls in the winter, 1890s. Contributed by Richard Uriah Jones, Macalester College Class of 1901, and Macalester Head of Chemistry Department 1903-1941, and Dean of the College, 1917-1936.
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."
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 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 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.
Two work cars loaded with rail stress testing the bridge in Duluth, Minnesota. Standing on car, left to right: A. Anderson, R. P. Williams (timekeeper), Hughes.
Spectators assess damage to the Chicago Great Western Railroad bridge during the flood of 1908. The mill and elevator can be seen in the background. The Zumbro River overflowed its banks in Rochester early on the morning of June 26, 1908.
Spectators are walking along the Chicago Great Western Railroad bridge assessing the damage from the flood waters. Much of the ground supporting the tracks has been washed away. The Zumbro River overflowed its banks in Rochester early on the morning of June 26, 1908.
People, standing on the College Street bridge, are looking at the flood waters and the sagging Chicago Great Western Railroad tracks after the flood of 1908. The Zumbro River overflowed its banks in Rochester early on the morning of June 26, 1908.
Spectators are watching the raging flood waters from the College (4th Street) Street bridge. The Chicago Great Western Railroad bridge is also visible After several days of drenching rains along the Zumbro River basin, the river overflowed its banks in Rochester early on the morning of early on June 26, 1908. The river rose at a rapid rate (four feet in 20 minutes) and did extensive damage to the business and residential sections of the city.