The second phase of the state of Kansas’s stone arch bridge era was marked by a slow but steady trend to concrete until the WPA days.
Category Archives: History
Kansas’s Stone Arch Bridge Tradition — Part 1
Using the state’s abundant native stone, Kansas built many stone arch bridges as an enduring and affordable means of bridging the streams.
The Building of the Stone Arch Bridges of Butler County, Kansas — Part 3
At the end of the unparalleled stone arch bridge and culvert campaign of Butler County, Kansas, hundreds of such structures had been built.
The Building of the Stone Arch Bridges of Butler County, Kansas — Part 2
The success of Butler County, Kansas in building stone arch bridges influenced other counties across the state as well as builders like Walter Sharp.
The Building of the Stone Arch Bridges of Butler County, Kansas — Part 1
After a persistent and unified push by the local newspapers, Butler County began to build stone arch bridges and culverts.
The WPA Stone Arch Bridges
To create jobs in the Great Depression, the WPA erected numerous well-built stone arch bridges which have a unique style and history of their own.
A Cowley County Stone Arch Bridge Before Its Time: The Island Park Bridge
Before Cowley County, Kansas began building its famous stone arch bridges in earnest, the city of Winfield built one at the entrance of Island Park.
Arch Building Simplified: Walter Sharp’s Secret to Building Stone Arch Bridges
Walter Sharp, the famous stone arch bridge builder of Cowley County, Kansas, had a simple secret he used to build stone arches quickly and inexpensively.
The Story of the Neer Bridge in Cowley County, Kansas
The double arch Neer Bridge near Cambridge in Cowley County, Kansas, was built to replace a prior stone bridge built just years before.
Two Obscure but Revealing Cowley Bridge Plaques
Some of the stone arch bridges of Cowley County, Kansas have elusive plaques, which tell an interesting story about the structure.