Tivoli Island Bridge, Spanning Rock River Channel from mainland to west side of Tivoli Island (moved from Milwaukee), Watertown, Jefferson County, WI
Summary
Significance: In 1866, Zenas King from Ohio received a patent for an innovative tubular iron-arch design. Increasing the sectional area of the top chord toward the ends of the arch, he claimed, strengthened the bridge. Built c. 1877, the Tivoli Island Bridge incorporated this design principle. The King Iron & Bridge Manufacturing Company in Cleveland, Ohio, popularized the tubular iron-arch by numerous examples throughout the United States. Apparently, the Tivoli Island Bridge was originally part of a four-span structure over the Crawfish River in the village of Milford. In 1906, two Watertown residents arranged to have the two-span section moved to its present location at Tivoli Island. In Wisconsin, the bridge is one of only seven remaining bowstrings and the last example of a tubular arch design.
Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: FN-8
Survey number: HAER WI-21
Building/structure dates: 1877 Initial Construction
Building/structure dates: 1906 Subsequent Work
Building/structure dates: 1886 Subsequent Work
Building/structure dates: 1926 Subsequent Work
Building/structure dates: 1986 Subsequent Work
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