Riordan Mansion Lunchtime Lecture: The Navajo Bridge: Then and Now

Arizona territorial historian Sharlot Hall first championed a bridge across the Colorado River at Marble Canyon in 1911. Little happened until 1923 when Arizona Highway Department bridge engineer Ralph Hoffman used his brilliant bridge design skills to come up with the arch design. Congressman Carl Hayden pulled funds from the Navajo Nation Tribal Fund against protest from Tribal Chairman Chee Dodge. With funding secured, Eldridge Moores received the contract to deliver the steel to the jobsite over a terrible road. Moores worked closely with the Steel erector Kansas City Structural Steel. The first bridge, built by an all-white crew of ironworkers, was completed and opened for traffic in January 1929.

By 1986, Arizona Department of Transportation classified the bridge as substandard and dedicated funds to upgrade or replace the historic bridge. Grand Canyon National Park now extended to Lees Ferry and under the existing bridge. Planning compliance took 8 years, orchestrated by bridge engineer Jerry Cannon. When subcontractor Traylor Brothers started the second bridge build in 1994, over half of the ironworkers were Navajo.

Space is limited. Reserve your spot online at  https://azstateparks.com/reserve/Activities/Search.aspx or call 928-779-4395 for additional information and same day availability.  The presentation will be free thanks to Riordan Action Network.