The Waco Suspension Bridge was the first bridge across the Brazos River. It opened January 7, 1870 as a private toll bridge and at that time was the longest 475-foot single-span suspension bridge in the world. McLennan County bought it in 1889 and made it a public free thoroughfare. Steel and cables were furnished by John A. Roebling of New York, who built the Brooklyn Bridge. The supervising engineer was Thomas M. Griffith of New York, and the brick work was done by Trice and Trice of Waco, Texas.