High Bridge of Kentucky

The High Bridge of Kentucky is a railway bridge spanning the Kentucky River and connecting Jessamine and Mercer counties. The structure features double tracks supported by a steel framework designed to handle freight traffic crossing the waterway below.

The structure was built in 1876 as North America's first cantilever bridge of its kind. Government officials attended the dedication ceremony, recognizing the project's importance for the nation's expanding rail network.

The bridge served as a symbol of Kentucky's industrial progress and attracted artists who documented its presence in their work. These early artistic interpretations remain part of how the region remembers this engineering achievement.

Freight trains operated by Norfolk Southern Railway cross daily, and viewing areas can be accessed from the nearby park along Kentucky Route 29. The best vantage points for observing the structure are available along the road that runs beside the river.

Local artist Paul Sawyier painted the bridge numerous times in the early 1900s, capturing it rising above the Kentucky River Palisades. These works preserve a rare artistic perspective from an era when industrial structures were still being documented through oil paintings rather than photographs.

Location: Jessamine County

Inception: 1876

GPS coordinates: 37.81680,-84.72000

Latest update: December 7, 2025 20:46