Crossing the River

The first bridge across the Meramec River stood at this site as a privately owned wooden covered toll bridge that opened in 1854 at an original cost of $19,000. In 1874 it became toll free after purchase by the county, and some of its stonework remains visible here. A new toll free iron bridge was built in 1925 by the State Highway Department 500 feet downstream from the original site, and it remains in use as the Old Gravois Bridge. Today three bridges cross the river in the city, connecting Fenton with the wider world and carrying 120,714 cars daily across the Meramec; at 10 cents per car, that traffic could pay for the original covered bridge 4 1/2 times per week.

Fenton, Missouri · United States