On This Date in Minnesota History: December 7

December 7, 1923 – Dedicated on this date, the Franklin Avenue Bridge, officially the F.W. Cappelen Memorial Bridge, carries Franklin Avenue over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, Minn.

Photo taken by Pamela J. Erickson. Released into the public domain Dec. 7, 2014,
as long as acknowledgement included.

It was designed by Frederick William Cappelen, assisted by Kristoffer Olsen Oustad, both of whom were among four important Norwegian-American engineers working in the region at the time. The reinforced-concrete open-spandrel arched structure was completed in 1923. The bridge's overall length is 1054.7 feet (321.47 m), with a central span of 400 feet (122 m). It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on Nov. 28, 1978, along with several other area bridges as part of a multiple-property submission.

The current bridge replaces one built in 1889 and its pilings and foundation can still be seen to the south of the current bridge. During planning of this original bridge there was consideration and debate concerning its possible interference with river navigation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cappelen_Memorial_Bridge

Photo taken by Pamela J. Erickson. Released into the public domain Nov. 19, 2013,
 as long as acknowledgement included.