Hannibal Bridge

The Hannibal Bridge is a railway crossing over the Missouri River in Kansas City with two separate decks for different purposes. The lower deck carries railroad tracks while the upper deck features a rotating mechanism that allows river traffic to pass through.

The bridge was built in 1869 as the first permanent railway crossing of the Missouri River, a major breakthrough for rail transport in the region. A half century later it required substantial reconstruction, which was completed in 1917.

This bridge became a vital link for the region when it opened, connecting areas that were previously difficult to reach by train. Today, the structure remains a recognizable part of the Kansas City landscape that people see from both the riverbanks and nearby roads.

The bridge is part of an active railway network operated by BNSF Railway, which runs two tracks across the structure. Visitors can view it from various vantage points along the riverbank, though it is important to remember this is a working railway facility.

The bridge proved its strength during a major 1951 flood when it was struck by four boats that had broken free, yet it survived the impacts intact. This durability demonstrated the solid engineering that has kept it operating for more than a century.