Old Chain of Rocks Canal Bridge

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Built in 1949, over the recently opened Chain of Rocks Canal, this bridge was largely obsolete in 16 years, when the new 270 bridge opened. Before that, it had carried a Route 66 Bypass to the old Chain of Rocks Bridge, which is now converted into a bike and pedestrian bridge. Thus, Chouteau Island is actually a man-made island, once attached to the Illinois shore.

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The sun was glistening off the water of the canal the day we visited, and it is an interesting sight to behold

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Ironically, the bridge built to replace it, some several hundred feet to the north, was just replaced in the last year or so.

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Come see my lecture about the architecture of Louis Sullivan at the Saint Louis Art Museum today, Thursday, Jan. 7th at 11:00 AM and Jan. 8th at 6:00 PM.

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