Whose view? From where? — November 2008

This photo was taken from the Rock Island Swing Bridge (also known variously as the Newport Rail Bridge, or the JAR Bridge). Built in 1895, the bridge connects present-day Inver Grove Heights to Saint Paul Park. The bridge is thought to be one of the last remaining with rail on the upper portion and cars on the lower portion. More information can be found in our November, 2008, article on the bridge's uncertain future.

In October, the National Park Service hosted a tour of the Dakota County side of the bridge, when almost 1,000 people toured the bridge. The tour raised the hopes of many that all or at least some of the bridge could be preserved in some form for the enjoyment of future generations. But in late November, a roughly 200-foot section of the Washington County side of the bridge fell into the river.

Steve Johnson, Chief of Resource Management for the Mississippi River National Park, not only correctly identified the bridge this month, but (perhaps not surprisingly) was able to correctly identify the time and place the photo was taken — during the National Park Service's October tour of the bridge.

About Whose view? From where?

Each month in this section, we feature a photo somewhere along the river corridor in the Twin Cities that is in some way significant or important or just plain scenic. Individuals may then e-mail us and identify the view and explain why they believe it is significant to the community or important to them personally. Well publish some of your responses in the next issue of Mississippi Messages, where we will also reveal the correct answer.

To submit your guess and response, e-mail Bob Spaulding, River Advocate, through our contact form. The respondent to provide the first correct identification of the view and hopefully some interesting thoughts about its significance will receive a valuable prize for their effort. All entries must be received by the first day of the following month for consideration.