Sometimes the coolest thing about a location is the history behind it, and these bridges in Arkansas are all notable places for history buffs to explore and get a few good photos. Even everyday tourists will have a good time traveling around the Natural State and looking at these historic travel paths.
1. Fourche LaFave River Bridge: Located in Perry County, the Fourche Lafave River Bridge is significant for its association with the Luten Bridge Company and the development of the Arkansas highway system in the first half of the twentieth century.
The bridge was a modern steel girder bridge, replacing a 1937 Warren deck truss bridge, which was the first road crossing of the North Fork River in Norfork. The 1937 bridge, demolished in 2014, was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1990.
6. Black River Bridge: This bridge carries U.S. Route 67 (US 67) across the Black River in Pocahontas, Arkansas.
This bridge consists of two Parker trusses, one on either side of a Warren swing span, and trestled approaches, giving it a total length of 1,255 feet.
7. Mountain Fork Bridge: This is a historic bridge in rural Polk County, Arkansas.
The bridge is a three-span open masonry structure, carrying Lafayette Street over the tracks of the St. Louis–San Francisco Railway.
10. Maple Street Overpass: Located in Fayetteville, Arkansas, this bridge carries West Maple Street over the railroad tracks running just east of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville campus.
The bridge is a three-span concrete structure set on abutments and piers of stone and concrete. The longest single span is 36 feet long, and the total bridge length is 98 feet.
The bridge carries County Road 77 across an unnamed brook just west of its junction with White Mountain Road.
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14. West James Avenue Overpass: This bridge spans Union Pacific Railroad (formerly Missouri Pacific Railroad) at West James Street (formerly Williams Street) in Redfield, Jefferson County, Arkansas.
The Blue Bridge was replaced in 2014. It, along with two similar bridges at Augusta and Clarendon, Arkansas, was designed by renowned bridge engineer Ira G. Hedrick, and was once part of a main interstate highway route.
16. Spring Lake Bridge: This small two-span stone arch bridge over Bob Barnes Branch is located at Spring Lake Recreation Area.
The bridge was built in 1936 by the United States Resettlement Administration .
17. Ward's Crossing Bridge: Located in Yell County, this through truss bridge over Fourche LaFave is located on River Road/Sunlight Bay Road southwest of Plainview.
This bridge was also part of a national modernizing movement to improve roads giving the town of Judsonia access to outlying regions on the opposite side of the river.
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19. Memphis and Arkansas Bridge: This bridge carries Interstate 55 across the Mississippi River between West Memphis, Arkansas and Memphis, Tennessee.
The bridge is notable as one of the oldest surviving bridges in Arkansas. It was built by an appropriation of $5,000, and replaced an earlier bridge that brought the "Military Road" across the Saline.
21. Twin Bridges Historic District: The Twin Bridges Historic District is an area surrounding two closed-spandrel, concrete-deck bridges completed in 1922 by the Luten Bridge Company.
These bridges are located on County Route 3412 and former County Route 11. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 7, 1994.
22. White River Bridge at Elkins: This bridge in in Elkins, Arkansas is a historic structure carrying County Road 44 over the White River in eastern Washington County.
25. Big Dam Bridge: The Big Dam Bridge spans the Arkansas River and Murray Lock and Dam between Little Rock and North Little Rock and is open only to pedestrian and bicycle traffic.
At 4,226 feet in length, the Big Dam Bridge is the longest pedestrian/bicycle bridge in North America that has never been used by trains or motor vehicles. For more information, read our full article.
While you’re out road-tripping this season you may find yourself running across (or over) one of these historic bridges in Arkansas, be sure to take a photo for posterity and share it with us!
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More to Explore
Bridges In Arkansas
Melissa M.|May 21, 2021
What are some of the most famous sites in Arkansas?
Arkansas has a wide variety of famous sites, from natural to man-made. One cannot visit the state without stopping at Hot Springs National Park, located in (of course) Hot Springs. This natural wonder is filled with nearly 50 hot springs where people from all over the globe come to relax in its healing waters. Crater of Diamonds State Park is another famous place and one where you can dig for your own diamonds. If you’re lucky enough to find one, you get to keep it! Bring your own tools or rent some from the park and have fun hunting for real treasure. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is a favorite museum of many in the state and is a must-visit. From the architecture to the art and installations inside and on the grounds, it’s an enchanting place to spend some time.
What are the best places for sightseeing in Arkansas?
The unique Buffalo National River, the first designated national river in the country, is one of the best places for sightseeing in the Natural State. This park has a varied landscape with a river, stunning mountains, and a plateau. You can even see the Milky Way clearly here at night as it’s a designated Dark Sky Park. If you prefer to sightsee in a more populated area, head to Eureka Springs and take an open-air tram tour. Learn the history while seeing the sights and getting a feel of what this great town has to offer!
Where can I find some of the best examples of architecture in Arkansas?
As the Natural State, Arkansas is certainly known better for its natural beauty, but it’s also home to numerous architectural gems. The most famous in the state is perhaps the Thorncrown Chapel in Eureka Springs. The design of this house of worship fits in quite nicely with the natural surroundings and has floor-to-ceiling windows to allow in natural light. More architecture examples can be found in our previous article, The 9 Most Unexpectedly Beautiful Places In Arkansas.
