This is a single suspension bridge from the Bridgemeister historical inventory of suspension bridges.

1906: Tin Top

Tin Top, Texas, USA - Brazos River
Bridgemeister ID:119 (added before 2003)
Year Completed:1906
Name:Tin Top
Also Known As:Hightower Valley
Location:Tin Top, Texas, USA
Crossing:Brazos River
Coordinates:32.575956 N 97.822697 W
Maps:Acme, GeoHack, Google, OpenStreetMap
Principals:Mitchell & Pigg
References:BRAZ, HAERTX98
Use:Vehicular
Status:Collapsed, Jan. 31, 1982 under weight of snow
Main Cables:Wire (steel)
Main Span:1 x 121.9 meters (400 feet)

Notes:

  • Some internet resources suggest the "Tin Top" and "Hightower" suspension bridges were separate nearby structures, however, this does not appear to have been the case. Both names were used to describe the same structure and USGS topographical maps from the 1950s label the bridge due south of Tin Top as "Hightower". Mitchell and Pigg did build a similar structure, at Brannon's Crossing. The 2015 National Register of Historic Places Registration Form for "Historic Road Infrastructure of Texas, 1866-1965", the Texas Department of Transportation writes: "In 1905 [Mitchell and Pigg] constructed the practically identical Brannon's Crossing and Hightower Valley Bridges across the Brazos in Parker County. The former was a 440-foot clear span while the later, also known as Tin Top, was 400 feet."
  • The coordinates appear to be the exact location of a pier remaining (as of 2020) from this bridge. The alignment indicated by the pier appears to exactly match the location of this bridge as indicated by 1958 USGS topographical map of the area.
  • Similar to 1906 Brannon's Crossing - Weatherford vicinity, Parker County, Texas, USA.
Photo courtesy of Marjorie Campbell

Find bridges within of this bridge's location (32.575956 N 97.822697 W)

Do you have any information or photos about this bridge that you would like to share? Please email david.denenberg@bridgemeister.com.


Mail | Facebook | Twitter