McDowell Bridge, Spanning North Skunk River, Montezuma, Poweshiek County, IA
Summary
Significance: The McDowell bridge was was built in 1883, towards the end of the heyday of the use of bowstring arch-trusses. In the 1860s and 1870s bowstring arch-trusses were used extensively because of their great structural efficiency. The 1880s saw a shift towards the pin-connected trusses which offered greater lateral stability. The McDowell bridge is an excellent example of the work of the King Iron Bridge and Manufacturing Company, a major bridge fabricator who erected thousands of these type of bridges throughout the nation, including hundreds in Iowa. This bridge is also of interest for its use of the King Company's patented end support piers.
Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: N243
Survey number: HAER IA-72
Building/structure dates: 1883 Initial Construction
National Register of Historic Places NRIS Number: 98000488
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