Spokane Bridges

Title

Spokane Bridges

Description

As a railroad hub situated on a major tributary of the Columbia River, Spokane is a city where bridges are prominent local and regional landmarks. Like much of the city, these bridges have undergone periods of construction, demolition and reconstruction that reflect changes in national modes of transportation, the economy of the region and the architectural aspirations of the city.

These photographs show the diversity of bridges which spanned the Spokane River and its tributaries from the 1880s until the middle years of the twentieth century. Historic images of major standing bridges such as the modern Monroe Street Bridge and the Hangman/Latah Creek Bridge are complemented by views of shorter-lived structures such as their immediate predecessors and the Cable Street Bridge.

The majority of these images are in black and white, but there are some sepia toned and hand-tinted images in the collection.

Collection Items

Spokane -- Bridges, Hangman  (#06)
A 1926 view of Hangman (Latah) Creek valley and 6th Avenue high bridge.

Spokane -- Bridges, Hangman  (#10)
The 6th Avenue high bridge after the completion of the concrete pour and before removal of the wooden forms. Behind is the old wooden bridge.

Spokane -- Bridges, Hangman  (#14)
A 1920s view of the north side of Latah Creek Bridge.

Spokane -- Bridges, Hangman  (#15)
A hand colored view of the Union Pacific/Milwaukee Road over Hangman (Latah) Creek from the early 1900s.

Spokane -- Bridges, Hangman  (#02)
A view of old Hangman (Latah) Creek bridge. Workers and building materials are visible in the foreground. Before 1911.

Spokane -- Bridges, Hangman  (#05)
A view of a horse and buggy crossing old Hangman (Latah) Creek bridge. Billboards are visible along the railing of the bridge in the foreground and Browne's Addition is in the background. Approximately 1900.

Spokane -- Bridges, Hangman  (#07)
A view of the current Hangman (Latah) Creek bridge taken c. 1911. Remnants of the old bridge and the Latah Creek Trestle are visible to the north. Iin the foreground are the tracks of the Northern Pacific Railroad.

Spokane -- Bridges, Hangman  (#08)
A sepia-toned image of the old Hangman (Latah) Creek bridge taken from the south before 1910. In the foreground are the tracks of the Northern Pacific Railroad.

Spokane -- Bridges, High  (#05)
A view of the Milwaukee/Union Pacific trestle across the Spokane River and Hangman (Latah) Creek taken in 1914.

Spokane -- Bridges, Cable Road  (#02)
The Cable Road bridge prior to 1889. This bridge was to the south of the current Sans Souci housing development (former site of Natatorium Park).

Spokane -- Bridges, High  (#01)
Looking down the Spokane River across the Union Pacific high bridge to the river's junction with Hangman (Latah) Creek in 1926.

Spokane -- Bridges, High  (#03)
Workers on the Union Pacific/Milwaukee high bridge across the Spokane River. Taken facing northwest.

Spokane -- Bridges, High  (#04)
Union Pacific/Milwaukee Trestle entering Spokane in the 1920s.

Spokane -- Bridges, High  (#06)
Reverse angle view of Union Pacific/Milwaukee trestle entering Spokane in the 1920s.

Spokane -- Bridges, High  (#02)
The Union Pacific/Milwaukee Road high bridge across the Spokane River and Latah Creek under construction in 1913.

Spokane -- Bridges, Howard Street  (#01)
Northern span of the old Howard Street Bridge crossing the northern channel of the Spokane River and Middle Falls. The Centennial Mill Co. warehouse located at the corner of Mallon and Howard is on the left. Taken around 1900.

Spokane -- Bridges, First Monroe Street  (#01)
Sepia tone image of the first Monroe Street Bridge across the Spokane River and Lower Falls. Taken after its completion in 1889. This wooden bridge burned July 23, 1890.

Spokane -- Bridges, First Monroe Street  (#02)
Sepia image of the first Monroe Street Bridge crossing the Spokane River below the Falls. 1889 or 1890.

Spokane -- Bridges, First Monroe Street  (#05)
Monroe Street Bridge showing foam from the falls obscuring the middle section of the bridge. Taken upstream of the bridge while looking southwest in 1890.

Spokane -- Bridges, First Monroe Street  (#03)
Construction of the timber Monroe Street Bridge in 1889.

Spokane -- Bridges, Second Monroe Street (#36)
Looking north at carriage, streetcar and pedestrian traffic crossing the Spokane River in 1895. Livery stables at right are on the current site of the Downtown Library.

Spokane -- Bridges, Second Monroe Street (#01)
Looking northwest across the Spokane river toward the Spokane County Courthouse. After 1895.

Spokane -- Bridges, Second Monroe Street (#03)
Courthouse, Monroe Street Bridge and Lower Fall taken from the Review Building after 1895. Pedestrian and streetcar traffic on the bridge and the Union Pacific viaduct over Monroe at Ide Avenue are visible.

Spokane -- Bridges, Second Monroe Street (#04)
Second Monroe Street Bridge under construction in 1891. Note the wooden scaffolding supporting the incomplete steel girders.

Spokane -- Bridges, Second Monroe Street (#06)
Looking south across the Monroe Street Bridge to the Review Building.

Spokane -- Bridges, Second Monroe Street (#09)
Looking west and downstream toward the old steel Monroe Street Bridge from the current site of the Downtown Library. Inland Empire System streetcars in the foreground.

Spokane -- Bridges, Second Monroe Street (#10)
Looking downstream and to the southwest across the dam toward the steel Monroe Street Bridge about 1898. Taken from the Post Street Bridge in the winter.

Spokane -- Bridges, Second Monroe Street (#11)
Looking east to the Lower Falls and the steel Monroe Street Bridge in an undated photo.

Spokane -- Bridges, Second Monroe Street (#12)
Looking northeast toward the Lower Fall and the steel Monroe Street Bridge.

Spokane -- Bridges, Second Monroe Street (#15)
Looking northeast, streetcars and horse traffic cross the steel Monroe Street Bridge over the Lower Falls in this undated photo.

Spokane -- Bridges, Second Monroe Street (#16)
Looking upstream toward the Lower Falls with the old steel Monroe Street Bridge and its streetcar traffic in the foreground. Taken about 1900.

Spokane -- Bridges, Second Monroe Street (#17)
Panoramic view of the steel Monroe Street Bridge and streetcar traffic taken from the northwest side of the bridge.

Spokane -- Bridges, Second Monroe Street (#18)
Early construction of the second Monroe Street Bridge among the ruins of the first bridge in 1891.

Spokane -- Bridges, Second Monroe Street (#21)
Looking northeast through the trees to the steel Monroe Street Bridge and its traffic.

Spokane -- Bridges, Second Monroe Street (#29)
Looking northeast in 1900 to the Monroe Street Bridge and streetcar traffic.

Spokane -- Bridges, Second Monroe Street (#30)
Looking upriver from beneath the steel beam structure of the Monroe Street Bridge. Taken about 1898.

Spokane -- Bridges, Second Monroe Street (#31)
Looking northeast to the steel Monroe Street Bridge and the Lower Falls.

Spokane -- Bridges, Second Monroe Street (#35)
Monroe Street Bridge with an inscription that reads "Monroe St. Cantilever Bridge, 1000 ft. long and 125 ft. high. Over the Spokane River. Spokane, Wash."

Spokane -- Bridges, Third Monroe Street (#24)
The third Monroe Street bridge, Lower Fall and Washington Water Power Company powerhouse illuminated at night. Taken facing upstream. Date unknown.

Spokane -- Bridges, Third Monroe Street (#27)
An ice covered lighting standard on the third Monroe Street Bridge. Date unknown.
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