We've been working on how and where to build an interpretive station for the
Van Buren Bridge. The turning mechanism and pony truss, saved from the old bridge, are waiting patiently in our maintenance yard for their new home.
Take a look at the photos and graphics below to learn about:
- The location for the interpretive exhibit.
- How we may showcase the bridge's turning mechanism.
- How we may present the timeline and pieces of the pony truss.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts through our survey, open from Feb. 11 - Mar. 2, 2025. We'll work on incorporating your feedback into the display in a way that is safe and can be enjoyed by our community for years to come.
Potential location:
Images of the turning mechanism:
Aerial view of the turning mechanism.
Side view of the turning mechanism.
Close-up view of the mechanism.
Ideas for displaying the turning mechanism: We'd like your feedback on how to display the turning mechanism. One challenge is that it is nearly 30 feet long and the outside is made of solid steel. This makes it difficult to see inside the mechanism without removing some of the metal or placing the mechanism in a different position. Would you prefer to see the mechanism displayed horizontally with some of the metal cut away? Or displayed vertically so it would be easy to see the gears inside? Let us know what you think in our
comment form!