Kansas – Stone Arch Bridges

Kansas’s Stone Arch Bridge Tradition — Part 2

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.

Using the state’s abundant native stone, Kansas built many stone arch bridges as an enduring and affordable means of bridging the streams.

The 1901 Polecat Creek Bridge is the only stone arch bridge on the NRHP in Butler County, Kansas, and its historic appearance is well maintained.

The success of Butler County, Kansas in building stone arch bridges influenced other counties across the state as well as builders like Walter Sharp.

After a persistent and unified push by the local newspapers, Butler County began to build stone arch bridges and culverts.

The double arch Andes Bridge in Cowley County, Kansas, is a beautiful structure in a scenic area with several local historical associations.

The Esch’s Spur Bridge (Pudden Bridge) in Cowley County, Kansas, is a unique and famous triple arch stone bridge spanning Grouse Creek near Dexter.

Stone arch bridges, like any other bridge, need to be designed with the properties of the stream they are to span kept in mind to ensure long life.

Many cases the name(s) of a historic bridge reflect the bridge’s significance, its history, or local land owners past and present.

Some background on early stone arch bridges and culverts in Cowley County, Kansas, which is famous for its stone arch bridges.