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The McGilvray Seven Bridges Road WI350 |
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In the early 1850s Scottish immigrant Alexander McGilvray established a small settlement
and ferry service, both known as "McGilvray's Ferry," along the Black
River. For the next forty years the ferry made seasonal river crossings despite frequent
log jams. Local citizens repeatedly petitioned for a more dependable means
to cross the river, and in 1892 La Crosse County erected the first in a series of
wooden bridges on McGilvray Road. Unfortunately, the river's marshy waters and
frequent floods soon rotted the wood. From 1905 through 1908, the La Crosse
Bridge and Steel Company erected a series of steel bridges. Designed and patented
by Charles M. Horton, these bowstring arch truss bridges incorporated "hook clips"
instead of rivets to fasten and strengthen structural members. Five of these rare
bowstring truss bridges are found on McGilvray Road and are listed on the
National Register of Historic Places. In 1975 the bridges became part of the Van
Loon Wildlife Area. In 1997 an additional historic truss bridge was moved to this
location.
Erected 1997
McGilvray Road Access, Van Loon State Wildlife Area Amsterdam Prairie Road, La Crosse County Wisconsin
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Wisconsin 