Suspension Bridges Crossing American River

This is a list of all 4 bridges from the suspension bridge inventory crossing American River. Please note that different rivers with the same name will be grouped together. For example, selecting 'Bear Creek' shows bridges across several different Bear Creeks. Also, similarly named rivers are grouped separately. For example, 'River Dee' (UK) bridges are grouped separately from 'Dee River' (Australia) bridges. Wherever you see a Bridgemeister ID number click it to isolate the bridge on its own page.

Related Lists:

1855: Whiskey Bar

El Dorado County, California, USA - American River
Bridgemeister ID:3357 (added 2019-12-15)
Year Completed:1855
Name:Whiskey Bar
Also Known As:Pioneer, Whisky
Location:El Dorado County, California, USA
Crossing:American River
Use:Vehicular
Status:Destroyed, 1862
Main Cables:Wire (iron)

Notes:


1862: Rattlesnake Bar

Folsom vicinity, California, USA - American River
Bridgemeister ID:1091 (added 2004-01-01)
Year Completed:1862
Name:Rattlesnake Bar
Location:Folsom vicinity, California, USA
Crossing:American River
At or Near Feature:Rattlesnake Bar
Coordinates:38.814397 N 121.091726 W
Maps:Acme, GeoHack, Google, OpenStreetMap
Principals:Andrew S. Hallidie
References:DSL200106
Use:Vehicular (one-lane)
Status:Collapsed, December 21, 1954
Main Cables:Wire (iron)
Suspended Spans:1

Notes:

  • The location of Rattlesnake Bar is closer to present-day Auburn than Folsom, near the location of Goose Flat marked on modern topographical maps of the region. The area was inundated during the creation of Folsom Lake, but the piers and abutments of the Rattlesnake Bar bridge are visible when the water level is low.
  • Rodi Lee writes: "[The bridge] collapsed in 1954 when an overweight truck filled with manure crossed it. The driver was unhurt. There are newspaper articles about the incident (Auburn Journal, Auburn). There are some photos in the article as well. The bridge abutments show when the the lake water is low. The bridge was upstream of Wild Goose Flats."
  • See 1855 Whiskey Bar (Pioneer, Whisky) - El Dorado County, California, USA. The cables of the Rattlesnake Bar bridge were reportedly reused from the damaged Whiskey Bar bridge.

External Links:

Photo courtesy Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Photo by Jerry Van Lengen Postcard, collection of Jochem Hollestelle

1965: Guy West

Sacramento, California, USA - American River
Bridgemeister ID:221 (added before 2003)
Year Completed:1965
Name:Guy West
Location:Sacramento, California, USA
Crossing:American River
Coordinates:38.562367 N 121.42017 W
Maps:Acme, GeoHack, Google, OpenStreetMap
References:WOT
Use:Footbridge
Status:In use (last checked: 2022)
Main Cables:Wire (steel)
Suspended Spans:1
Main Span:1 x 183 meters (600.4 feet)

Notes:

  • WOT says completed 1968.
Photo by David Denenberg Postcard, collection of Jochem Hollestelle

Ecklon Toll

Folsom, California, USA - American River
Bridgemeister ID:1552 (added 2004-11-14)
Name:Ecklon Toll
Location:Folsom, California, USA
Crossing:American River
Coordinates:38.682343 N 121.175714 W
Maps:Acme, GeoHack, Google, OpenStreetMap
References:IHS
Use:Vehicular (one-lane)
Status:Collapsed, 1892
Main Cables:Wire (iron)
Suspended Spans:1

Notes:

  • Folsom's Rainbow Bridge occupies the location where this bridge stood.
  • IHS: Bridge is purchased by Christian L. Ecklon (a local butcher) in 1872 from "Kinsey & Whitely."
Photo courtesy Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division


Do you have any information or photos for these bridges that you would like to share? Please email david.denenberg@bridgemeister.com.


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