The first Lake Champlain Bridge between Crown Point, New York, and Chimney Point, Vermont, opened in 1929. Initially serving mainly tourists, it became an important connection for residents and businesses across the region. Its high center arch joined form and function, as designer Charles M. Spofford adapted continuous truss technology used for railroads in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to create a structurally efficient and aesthetically pleasing highway bridge. His innovation produced a curving transition between the flat approach decks and the central channel arch, echoing the surrounding mountains, and his cantilevered design allowed the arched center span to be built without falsework so the navigation channel remained open to boat traffic. The bridge served the region for 80 years and became a beloved landmark before closing and being demolished in 2009 because of safety concerns.