This slideshow features photographs of Jay Cooke State Park's iconic swinging bridge as it has changed over the decades. Scroll down beneath the gallery to see a timeline of the bridge's history.
The Forest Service builds the first Swinging Bridge of logs and rope.
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) builds the bridge with the familiar stone pillars we see today.
The Swinging Bridge is destroyed in what is now the second largest flood on record. This flood was recorded at 42,000 cubic feet per second. The smaller pillars were knocked down, the decking destroyed, and some reports indicate that one of the main pillars may have been toppled.
Reconstruction is completed and the bridge reopens. The concrete caps seen on top of the pillars are added to raise the bridge level. It has been raised a total of 7.5 feet since it was originally built.
The bridge undergoes further alterations and repairs.
The bridge is destroyed by another flood. This flood is reported by Minnesota Power to run at 55,000 cubic feet per second. Again, the smaller pillars are knocked down.
Map showing locations of flood damage around the park
