Thursday, March 24, 2011

Third Avenue Bridge, Minneapolis - Then & Now



The black and white photo above is from the MNHS Visual Resources Database and shows the construction of the Third Avenue Bridge over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis in 1917. This view is looking toward the milling district on the west bank.

The postcards below are from my postcard collection. The first card shows the completed bridge looking toward the east bank of the river. The large building in the center is the Industrial Exposition Building (1887-1940). The Third Avenue Bridge was originally called the St. Anthony Falls Bridge. The description on the back of this card is as follows:
ST. ANTHONY FALLS BRIDGE at Minneapolis, Minnesota, completed in June, 1918, at a cost of $865,000. It is the largest concrete arch bridge, built on a reverse curve, that spans the Mississippi River at any point from the source to the mouth. Designed and built by the Minneapolis City Engineering Department.

The next postcard shows another early view looking toward the Milling District on the west side of the river.



Here is some more information about the bridge from the Minneapolis Riverfront District website:
This 2,223-foot-long span was originally called the St. Anthony Falls Bridge, as it is built over the upper portion of the St. Anthony Falls Dam. Its alignment follows a shallow reverse S-curve in order to avoid fractures in the limestone bedrock supporting the bridge piers; it has the distinction of being the largest concrete arch bridge on a reverse curve. Much of the design work was done by Minneapolis city engineer Frederick W. Cappelen, who was responsible for a number of other local bridges and other structures, including the Cappelen Memorial (Franklin Avenue) Bridge. Construction of the $650,000 bridge used techniques which were state-of-the-art for the time, including the placement of water-tight cofferdams within which the bridge piers were poured. The concrete arches were formed against “falsework,” which supported and shaped the arches and then were removed after completion. A number of modifications have been made to the bridge over the years, including a major renovation in 1979- 80.
I didn't realize until I saw the description on the Lost Bridges page of the Minneapolis Riverfront District website, that the next postcard shows the "falsework" used in the construction of the Third Avenue Bridge. The falsework of the Third Avenue Bridge can be seen in the distance on the right side of the picture behind the smoke stacks. Here is the description of this card from that website:
Postcard showing the following bridges, heading upriver: Minneapolis Western Railroad, Lower (10th Avenue), Stone Arch, and falsework for the Third Avenue bridge, under construction; ca. 1917 .

The last postcard is a recent view of the Third Avenue Bridge. The bridge has not changed much, but the focus and style of the postcard have. This view is toward some of the downtown Minneapolis buildings on the west side of the river. The description does not even mention the bridge, saying only "A golden sunset casts its hue on the skies over Downtown Minneapolis and is reflected in the Mississippi River."


Visit Sepia Saturday for More Vintage Photos




23 comments:

  1. I've never crossed the Mississippi that far north. Usually I cross at St. Louis and the bridges are high all metal. It would be interesting to cross at various points along the way and compare bridges.

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  2. A Dramatic Structure.It's Interesting How Our "View" of The View Changes Over Time.

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  3. interesting post cards. i'd like to see the bridges in person.
    nancy

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  4. Quite interesting and the light on the last one is amazing, making for a very colorful photo. Great post.
    QMM

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  5. Excellent post and fascinating history

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  6. I am struck by your point that the last postcard doesn't even mention the bridge. I wonder that they are not so much of an interest to us anymore because they're so common place? And I wonder are where there are places that still desperately need bridges and don't have them? I do know that around where I live, there are tons of little bridges and there always seem to be detours because of renovation, so I do have an appreciation of their importance!

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  7. I have to say that I am completely taken with that first post card. There's something about the blue water, almost jewel like. Unrealistic, buy so fascinating.

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  8. A great collection of vintage bridges. It helps us remember what a vitally important part bridges have played, both in the old world and the new world. Whatever the style of photography, whatever the era, we are drawn to bridges.

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  9. I particularly like the last postcard - great colours :-)

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  10. I've always wanted to visit Minneapolis. I'm also curious as to how these bridges changed the way people traveled and lived. What did people do before it was built in 1918?

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  11. I love bridges! Interesting to see the little changes over the years...not much, though! Trains and smoke stacks are gone! And I agree that simply taking the photo from a different angle really makes it look different on the most recent one!

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  12. I love the way you've bridged the connection from the old to the now! It a wonderful old bridge worth telling us about. The oldest one reminds meof the Loc Ness Monster

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  13. I like how these postcards show the rhythm of the bridges created by the arches. It's not so obvious when you cross a bridge but images like on these postcards make it so obvious and beautiful. I especially like the Stone Arch Bridge in the 3rd postcard. Thanks for sharing!

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  14. These are wonderful bridge cards. The first coloured one is my favourite.
    Bridges are so very important - in the early days of NZ history when the country was being explored and settled there were so many deaths by drowning that it was known as the New Zealand disease. We have many rivers that swell so very quickly after rain in the hills or a spring thaw; to cross them pre-ferry and bridge times was really taking your life into your hands.

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  15. It felt just like taking a ride across town...this is stunning! Great info and such lovely postcards of my very own hometown...I wasn't born here but I've lived here longer than anywhere else and it's as lovely as your postcards...the Stone Arch Bridge is of course a big deal even today! Thanks for your post!

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  16. A fine collection of bridges, I need a long time to study them all and still can't decide which one I like best,

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  17. interesting bridge. i like its curves. the last postcard definitely resonate with my own affinities.
    :)~
    HUGZ

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  18. Wow, you have such an incredible collection, I should not be amazed that you have a postcard for every topic! You've also found some great pictures to share, wonderful post.

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  19. Wonderful bridges for SS. Thanks for all of the history and background info...I know it takes you a long time to do your posts, and I really appreciate it.

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  20. Great shots, all... but I admit that the older ones have a certain "power" over me that the colorful modern one does not have.

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  21. I love the artistry of the older ones, so charming. But the unique coloring of the last, modern one is striking. Nice post! I wish all bridges were this beautiful.

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