National Register of Historic Places

Washington Avenue Bridge

Waxo, McLennan County, Texas
Listed
February 20, 1998
Type
Structure
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
98000143

About this property

The Washington Avenue Bridge in Waco, Texas was built in 1902 and was then the longest single-span vehicular truss bridge in Texas. It has a 450-foot (140 m) span across the Brazos River. It provided for traffic circulation in addition to that provided by the 1870-built Waco Suspension Bridge one block downriver (east). The bridge cost $93,399 for its construction, not including $1,850 for railings and approach spans. Its cost was split by McLennan County and the City of Waco, which became equal owners. A Black man named Sank Majors was lynched at the bridge in 1905, hung from a crossbeam by a white mob. Another Black man, Jim Lawyer, was attacked for objecting to the lynching. Texas Rangers looked on the violence and did not intervene. The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.

Location

Waxo, McLennan County, Texas
31.56232, -97.12748

Categories

INDUSTRY
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

Waco Suspension Bridge
Industrial
0 mi
McCulloch House
Industrial
0.4 mi
Waco Downtown Historic District
Listed
0.4 mi
McClennan County Courthouse
Industrial
0.5 mi
Waco Drug Company
Industrial
0.5 mi

Nearby Battles

Waco Siege 1993
1993Modern
1.9 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 February 20, 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?

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