Historic photos
The 1920s
The 1930s
The 1950s
The 2000s
Timeline
1924
The Forest Service builds the first Swinging Bridge of logs and rope.
1934 and 1935
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) builds the bridge with the familiar stone pillars we see today.
1950
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.
1953
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.
1970s and 1980s
The bridge undergoes further alterations and repairs.
June 21, 2012
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.
