I never knew that you could do this!
While visiting our friends near St. Louis over the weekend, we got the chance to head out for a free adventure! Though I had often drove across the bridge next to this one while crossing the Mississippi River from Illinois to Missouri, I never knew that this one was now solely used for bicycle and pedestrian traffic.
The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge was at one time used by the historic Route 66, which lead from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA. Originally it was built in the late 1920s as a toll bridge. At the time of its construction, it costed about $3 Million. It remained in use as a toll bridge until 1966, which was the same year that the New Chain of Rocks Bridge was built just upstream. In 1970, vehicular use of this bridge was discontinued.
These days the bridge is owned by the city of Madison, IL and is leased to Trailnet, which is a local group that manages trails in the area. Apparently over $4 Million was spent renovating this bridge. From the time that it closed to vehicle traffic in 1970 until it was leased to Trailnet in 1998, no one knew what would happen to the bridge.
It was used as a filming site for the movie starring Kurt Russel Escape From New York and also gained a reputation for crime, including a couple murders. There were times when many thought that it would just be demolished. Now, it is free to use for pedestrians and bicyclists to cross back and forth across the Mississippi River.
The bridge is a peculiar one indeed. For one, it is just over a mile long. I hadn't really thought about how long it was when we walked all the way across it, and then back too. One big difference between this bridge and other ones that I have been to is that there is a 22 degree turn in the middle of it. I took the photo above from the almost halfway point to show how sharp the turn in.
While it may be a mile long, you can see that the @little-peppers still had plenty of energy once we made it across. I did have to carry one back though.
If you look just downstream to the south, you can see the city of St. Louis, including its famous Arch. In all of my years passing through the city of St. Louis, I never knew about this bridge, so I am very glad that our friends took us here.
Just downstream are two very interesting buildings. These are actually water intakes for the St. Louis Waterworks. Standing there on the bridge looking at them, it kind of made me wish that there were some ziplines here.
They almost look like interesting little light houses, or peculiar homes for people who do not like having neighbors. Checking out things like this makes me marvel at the building processes needed to build things like these.
The river, and the day, were stunning and beautiful. Walking around so much we were able to work up a sweat, but it was still a good temperature for an outside adventure. There is something peaceful about rivers like this, even if they are massive.
Some educational signs were posted, and on this one we were able to see many of our wild friends. We could see a lot of people fishing downstream. It would have been nice to try to catch something, but the walk was enjoyable enough.
On the Missouri side of the bridge we saw a few of my favorite animals, turtles. It really made me wish that I was down there by them, but I never made it that far.
With the help of my camera zoom, I was able to get a closer look at them without having to go all the way down there. Among others, there were some Red-Eared Sliders and Map Turtles too! I saw just over ten total.
The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge is an interesting piece of American History, and I am glad that it was not demolished and that it still exists for us to enjoy today. Though it may have outlived its original purpose as a bridge for cars and trucks, a lot of people are still enjoying it every day.
A few "Route 66" benches are located on the bridge if any walkers need a break. They may have a bit of graffiti scratched in them, but they still look pretty cool in my opinion.
This added to the nostalgia of the bridge too. I've seen a lot of Route 66 stuff across the US on my travels, and I guess I'll have to check some more out next time I get the chance.
If you are ever in the St. Louis, MO area and are looking for something interesting to do for fun, I'd highly recommend checking out the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge and the trails nearby. I know that we really enjoyed our time!
This post is based upon my personal experience and contains original photos, but I did do some background research at this source.
As always, I'm @papa-pepper and here's the proof:
proof-of-old-chain-of-rocks-bridge
Until next time…
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Wonderful photos @papa-pepper Mississippi river is presenting a very nice scene and Rock bridge its is also amazing.I am surprised to see buildings in the stream.
I want to ask, do people live in these buildings?
No, nobody lives in them, but that would be neat!
umm i am curious to visit these buildings
Well, I learned a bit of #history today -- this I found to be a Fascinating post; kinda felt as tho I was #traveling along on the journey w/ you [☻SO THANKS ].
Anything assoc. with the old Route 66 is neat to me. It's kind of "otherworldly" ... the Fact it's from my dad's time is sort of cool.
And it's so-o-o Neat that it can be used by 'bikers & hikers' of today. I am sure they appreciate it.
Liked those TURTLE pics, too - nice of you to shoot these pictures..
Enjoy your style of #writing - so just this moment, I decided to FOLLOW you (the fact you're a Deep thinker appeals to me ).
I am, too .
P.S - I chuckled when u said "They almost look like interesting little light houses, or peculiar homes for people who do not like having neighbors"
I'm totally falling in love with those turtles so tinies and cutes! It's a beautiful place, that river has been for years in my favorite place to travel. Those little houses are fairy houses of course hahaha. Great photographies ! :)
Thank you. I really enjoyed the turtles too!
Hey papa, I'm hearing stories of the river being very low. To the point that they are dredging in some places just to get the bardges of grain through. Any sense or information about the water levels? Thanks
It was low, but I have no specifics. The part we were at had the rock bridge downstream to try to keep the water a little deeper, so that makes things a little more difficult too.
plase follow me like vote
Great post, and it looks like a really cool bridge to explore, thanks for sharing your day!!!
It was really cool to check out. Thanks!
wow+wowwow=wow
incredible views and i love your photography
feeling great to know about OLD CHAIN OF ROCKS BRIDGE
that was worthful
awesome work
please keep posting
:)
upvoted and resteem
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Beautifull place and good enjoy the travel 💕
wonderful visit @papa-pepper, of "OLD CHAIN OF ROCKS BRIDGE ". what an adventurous and excited place. all the shots taken very well. love that kind of places, good work. thanks a lot for sharing....
I like turtles too, I heard the big ones where so delicious they didn't make it to Europe till 150 years later.(after they where found)
All places is very beautiful but the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge best.
Such a wonderful place I wish that I can go there someday...
What a beautiful trip for your story and the photos I observed that you had a wonderful time friend
Thank you, it was a great time!
Post of the day
it's indeed a beautiful place.
its a nice concept it help me a lot thanks for this beautiful post
simple upvote @atikulislam and FOLLOW @atikulislam
Wow
Now that's a great post @papa-pepper. Thanks for sharing this. Especially love those turtles! (ninja turtle fan lol)
homes for people who do not like having neighbors
I could live there..
Lol, got a boat?
working on one..
..a houseboat then I won't need that.
I expect to float it in a few years.
but if I had to I could build a kayak in a week or two..
All places is very beautiful
That was indeed an amazing experience! And those turtles are cute, i wonder what they are doing there. haha
Cool I don´t know about the bridge
Aside from fauna, flora and history rich, the bridge also witness of different stories of the past.
That's right!
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STOPOww amazing,,
a very quiet atmosphere on the beach, and the bridge is like an old bridge, and a very cute turtles
Great post about this beautiful piece of workmanship. Unfortunatly we had not enough time to visit it on our Route66 trip in march this year. We had only 11 days for the whole trip - it was kind of a race through America. :)
Interesting! Glad that you still has a great time.
OMG look at that photography awesome picture click sooo beautiful 😍😍😍
Wonderfully snapped pictures
You were in my neck of the woods! @papa-pepper You mentioned you traveled through St. Louis frequently: for business or pleasure? Did you know there also used to be a Chain of Rocks Amusement Park? https://www.google.com/search?q=chain+of+rocks+amusement+park+st+louis&prmd=minv&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjHnfGshuvWAhVq3IMKHYTQDL0Q_AUICigC&biw=360&bih=512&dpr=3#imgrc=4YVHSC3M9Et-SM:
Enjoyed every bit of this article!!!
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WOW somehting for free not to much that is free these days
I would love to walk across it I love old bridges like this
Thos intake things do look like tiny little houses how cool is that
Yikes @papa-pepper ! Those are some amazing pictures. I can only imagine that the pictures are nothing compared to being there in person. I loved the pictures of the turtles, those are also one of my favorite things to see in the wild. Adventure on !
Good posting
This looks like a lot of fun and good exercise too. How big are those buildings in the river? They look really interesting. And you managed to get in some wildlife too. Great work, @papa-pepper!