Is this curve an optical illusion? Standing here, right in front of the Third Avenue Bridge, you might think your eyes are playing tricks on you. This isn’t just any bridge; it’s a masterpiece of engineering with a fascinating history. Completed in June 1918, the Third Avenue Bridge, originally known as the St. Anthony Falls Bridge, was a testament to Minneapolis’s commitment to progress and innovation. Automobiles and streetcars were rapidly changing transportation, and Minneapolis needed a bridge that could handle the increasing traffic. The old Lower Bridge couldn’t cope with the weight of modern vehicles. The city aimed to connect the bustling Central Avenue on the east side of the Mississippi River with Third Avenue on the west. However, the challenge was more complex than just connecting two points.
Frederick Cappelen, the brilliant mind behind Minneapolis’ iconic Prospect Park Water Tower, stepped up to design this unique bridge. He faced a significant hurdle: Central Avenue and Third Avenue weren’t aligned. Moreover, the rock formations near St. Anthony Falls had been weakened from a failed tunneling project decades earlier. Cappelen’s solution was both ingenious and aesthetically pleasing. He designed the Third Avenue Bridge in a distinctive reverse s-curve shape, making it the longest bridge of its kind in the world, a title it still proudly holds today. The bridge’s seven elegant Melan arches, open spandrels, and the Classical Revival ornamentation on its pilasters and piers further cemented its iconic status. And those curves we were admiring? They weren’t an illusion but a testament to Cappelen’s ingenuity in overcoming the geographical challenges. The Third Avenue Bridge stands as a symbol of Minneapolis’s rich history and enduring spirit.