Tennessee River Railroad Bridge, Spanning Tennessee River at Alabama Highway 43, Florence, Lauderdale County, AL

Significance: One of the oldest combination vehicular and railroad bridges in Alabama, the Tennessee River Railroad Bridge played a significant role in the early agricultural and industrial development of the Tennessee Valley and specifically of the Quad-City area (Florence, Tuscumbia, Sheffield, Muscle Shoals). During the early part of the Civil War, it was of primary importance in transporting Confederate troops to the Battles of Shiloh and Corinth to various points strategic to the defense of Western Tennessee. After the bridge was rebuilt in 1870, its use was instrumental in recovery from Reconstruction. After the 1930's, it contributed to the prosperity engendered by creation of the Tennessee Valley Authority.
Survey number: HAER AL-204
Building/structure dates: 1858 Initial Construction
Building/structure dates: 1869-1870 Subsequent Work
Building/structure dates: 1890 Subsequent Work
Building/structure dates: 1893 Subsequent Work
Building/structure dates: 1895 Subsequent Work
Building/structure dates: 1906 Subsequent Work
Building/structure dates: 1962 Subsequent Work
Building/structure dates: 1990 Demolished