Capitol Boulevard Memorial Bridge Explained

Capitol Boulevard Memorial Bridge
Location:S Capitol Blvd at Boise River
Boise, Idaho
United States
Coordinates:43.6089°N -116.2072°W
Built:1931
Architect:Charles A. Kyle
Architecture:Art Deco
Refnum:90001717
Added:November 5, 1990

The Capitol Boulevard Memorial Bridge, also known as the Oregon Trail Memorial Bridge, is a historic bridge over the Boise River in Boise, Idaho, United States. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Description

The bridge is a 310feet Art Deco style deck arch bridge constructed in 1931 by Morrison-Knudsen. Idaho state highway engineer Charles A. Kyle designed the bridge, which includes four 70feet open spandrel arches supporting a 40feet wide roadbed with four lanes of motorized traffic crossing river. Two 6abbr=onNaNabbr=on, cantilevered sidewalks allow for pedestrian traffic.[1]

History

Boise was established in 1863, soon after the second Fort Boise was constructed, and its location required that Oregon Trail pioneers ford the Boise River. In 1864 John McClellan and William Thompson formed the Ada Ferry Company and received a charter to operate a ferry at the crossing. McClellan and Thompson constructed a toll bridge near the site in 1868.[2] The Ninth Street Bridge replaced McClellan and Thompson's toll bridge in 1911.[3]

In 1914 architect Charles W. Wayland envisioned a grand boulevard approaching the Idaho State Capitol Building,[4] and after the Boise Depot was built in 1925, city planners redesignated 7th Street as Capitol Boulevard, and the Capitol Boulevard Memorial Bridge was constructed and dedicated as a memorial to Oregon Trail pioneers.[5]

The bridge was refurbished in 1987 and restored in 2013[6] [7] and was added to the National Register of Historic Places November 5, 1990.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: [{{NRHP url|id=90001717}} National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Capitol Boulevard Memorial Bridge]. National Park Service. John L. Bertram . Elizabeth Egleston . June 15, 1990 . August 27, 2018.
  2. Web site: McClellan's Ferry . 2018-08-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180828035803/https://parks.cityofboise.org/media/975788/McClellanFerry.pdf . 2018-08-28 . dead .
  3. Web site: [{{NRHP url|id=01000980}} National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Ninth Street Bridge]. National Park Service. Donald W. Watts . July 24, 2000 . August 27, 2018.
  4. Web site: Capitol Boulevard . 2018-08-27.
  5. Web site: Capitol Memorial Bridge Built 1931 . 2018-08-27.
  6. Web site: Boise’s Signature Bridge: The Oregon Trail Memorial Bridge . 2018-08-27.
  7. Web site: Webb . Anna . Oregon Trail Memorial Bridge restoration finished . 2018-08-27.