Cascade Bridge

Cascade Bridge is a road crossing that spans a deep ravine using four equal steel sections joined together. The structure showcases multiple engineering design methods typical of the industrial age.

The bridge was approved by the city in 1896 and designed by a Cedar Rapids engineering firm, then built by manufacturers from Milwaukee. Over time, parts of the structure were replaced and reinforced, but its original framework remained intact.

The bridge takes its name from the deep ravine it crosses, and its steel structure remains visible from the surrounding landscape. Today visitors can admire the engineering design from outside, even though the structure no longer serves traffic.

The bridge has been closed to public use since 2008 and cannot be accessed by vehicles, pedestrians, or bicycles. The best way to view the structure is from the adjacent riverbanks or surrounding landscape.

The structure was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998, recognizing its importance to engineering history of the late 19th century. This acknowledgment reflects how the design methods used here represent a key moment in bridge-building techniques of that era.