The General Dean Suspension Bridge spans the Kaskaskia River at Carlyle in Clinton County, Illinois, United States. It is named after Major General William F. Dean, a native of Carlyle who served during the Korean War. The bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was added to the Register in 1973.[3]
General Dean Suspension Bridge | |
 The General Dean Suspension Bridge, ca. 2000 | |
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| Nearest city | Carlyle, Illinois |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 38°36′40″N 89°21′28″W / 38.61111°N 89.35778°W |
| Area | 0.3 acres (0.12 ha) |
| Built | 1859 |
| Engineer | P. Griffith Smith[2] |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000693[1] |
| Added to NRHP | April 3, 1973 |
History
editThe bridge was originally constructed in 1859 at a cost of $40,000. The original bridge remained in operation for nearly seventy years.[4] Before the bridge was constructed, travelers were forced to cross the Kaskaskia at Carlyle by ferry or over a mud bridge.[5] In 1950 the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) recognized the bridge for its architectural significance. HABS recommended preservation of the bridge.[6] The Illinois General Assembly set aside $20,000 for bridge restoration in 1951, and in 1953 the bridge was named after Major General Dean.[4]
References
edit- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ "Bridge drawing". 1933.
- ^ Clinton County, Illinois, State Listings, nrhp.com
- ^ a b Attractions & Outdoor Recreation Archived 2007-02-07 at the Wayback Machine, City of Carlyle, Official site
- ^ Plaque on site, Photograph of plaque at Bridgemeister.
- ^ Survey number HABS IL-225 - Suspension Bridge, Spanning Kaskaskia River, Carlyle, Clinton County, IL.
External links
edit
Media related to General Dean Suspension Bridge at Wikimedia Commons- Bridgemeister: Several good photos and closeups of the bridge
- General Dean Suspension Bridge at Structurae
- Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) No. IL-225, "Suspension Bridge, Spanning Kaskaskia River, Carlyle, Clinton County, IL"
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