National Register of Historic Places

Washington Avenue Bridge

Iowa Falls, Hardin County, Iowa
Listed
May 14, 1998
Type
Structure
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
98000518

About this property

The Washington Avenue Bridge in Iowa Falls, Iowa, is a concrete two-span open-spandrel arch bridge that carries Washington Avenue over the Iowa River. Originally, it served as part of U.S. Route 20. The bridge was built in 1934 by the Weldon Brothers at a cost of $51,710.55. In the 1920s and 1930s, if a relatively long bridge was needed in a rural area, it would typically have been constructed using steel trusses. However, in urban settings—where sufficient height allowed for wide arches—a concrete open-spandrel arch bridge could be built, offering both structural efficiency and visual appeal. In Iowa, other examples of this bridge type include the Mederville Bridge (1918), the Adair Viaduct (1923), and the Iowa Falls Bridge (1928, also built by the Weldon Brothers). The Washington Avenue bridge is especially notable as a well-preserved two-span example. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.

Location

Iowa Falls, Hardin County, Iowa
42.51966, -93.27120

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.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Washington Avenue Bridge

This page lists Washington Avenue Bridge. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Washington Avenue Bridge report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

River Street Bridge
Industrial
0.1 mi
Edgewood School of Domestic Arts
Industrial
0.2 mi
W. R. C. Hall
Industrial
0.3 mi
Sentinel Block
Industrial
0.3 mi
US Post Office-Iowa Falls
Industrial
0.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Washington Avenue Bridge listed on the National Register?

Washington Avenue Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 14, 1998.

What type of historic resource is Washington Avenue Bridge?

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

What is the period of significance for Washington Avenue Bridge?

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

Can I research the history near Washington Avenue Bridge?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Washington Avenue Bridge will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Hardin County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Hardin County.

Explore HardinCounty ›

More historic places in Iowa

Browse all historic places in Iowa.

View Iowahistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Iowa history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Iowahistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Washington Avenue Bridge will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report