Keithsburg Rail Bridge

The Keithsburg Rail Bridge spans the Mississippi with a vertical-lift truss structure designed to carry a single railroad track. The framework was built to rise when needed, allowing taller boats to pass underneath.

The bridge was built in 1909 by the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway, replacing an earlier railroad crossing from 1886. The project was part of efforts to modernize rail infrastructure in the region during the early 1900s.

The bridge once served as a vital link for people and goods moving between communities on both sides of the river. Today it stands as a reminder of when railroads were the primary route for trade and travel.

Train service ended in 1971 when the Chicago and North Western stopped operating, and the lift mechanism has remained locked in the raised position since then. Visitors can view the bridge from both sides of the river and see the industrial structure from nearby roads or the water.

In 1981, a fireworks incident destroyed the lift section, causing it to collapse into the river and blocking barge traffic for over a week. This was one of the most dramatic events in the structure's history and permanently altered its physical form.

Location: Illinois

Location: Iowa

Official opening: 1909

GPS coordinates: 41.10500,-90.95280

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:45