National Register of Historic Places

Steyer Bridge

Decorah, Winneshiek County, Iowa
Listed
January 4, 1983
Type
Structure
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
83000411

About this property

The Steyer Bridge is a historic structure located on the west side of Decorah, Iowa, United States. This is one of the few stone arch bridges that continue to exist in Iowa. It was constructed by local stonemason Michael Steyer over Twin Springs Creek in 1875. Steyer emigrated from Germany in 1867, and settled in Decorah. His brother Joseph was the proprietor of the Steyer Opera House in town. Compared to other stone bridges in the state, this one is less sophisticated and is a good example of vernacular engineering. It is a small structure that consists of a single arch that is formed by rough-cut limestone voussoirs. The keystone is a block of dressed limestone with Steyer's name and the date "1875" carved on it. The spandrels and the walls that form the foundation for the approaches to the bridge consist of coursed rubble limestone. The base of the walls and the lower edges of the arch were reinforced with concrete in the 1970s. The concrete bridge deck is edged with wooden posts. When U.S. Route 52 was relocated to this area in the early 1970s, the Steyer Bridge was scheduled to be removed, but local protests saved it and the highway bridge built over it. The bridge listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

Location

Decorah, Winneshiek County, Iowa
43.29834, -91.81111

Categories

ENGINEERING
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Ellsworth-Porter House
Industrial
0.7 mi
Koren Library
Industrial
0.9 mi
Steyer Opera House
Industrial
1.1 mi
Decorah Municipal Bathhouse and Swimming Pool
Industrial
1.2 mi
Broadway-Phelps Park Historic District
Listed
1.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Steyer Bridge listed on the National Register?

Steyer Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 4, 1983.

What type of historic resource is Steyer Bridge?

Steyer Bridge is classified as a structure in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Steyer Bridge?

The period of significance for Steyer Bridge is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Steyer Bridge?

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