Exhibit "Honoring the Albion River Bridge" by Rita Crane
Residents of the Mendocino Coast are persevering in their efforts to protect the Albion River Bridge from being torn down and replaced with a modern concrete bridge. I was asked to put together a show to highlight this effort of preservation, showing the bridge from many angles and at different times of the day and night.
This historic timber trestle bridge is the last of its kind still being used in California along Highway One.
In the 1850's a logging operation processing the magnificent redwood trees was built at the mouth of the Albion River on the Albion Flats. The early settlers of the region crossed the Albion River with wagons and horses via steep narrow dirt tracks that went through the mill site and back up the equally steep opposite slope. Eventually it was decided to improve the difficult crossing and in 1944 the current tall timber trestle bridge was built. It was constructed from huge first growth Douglas fir beams. Wood was chosen for the building material because steel was scarce due to the ongoing war effort that required so much steel.
Today the Albion Flats and beach are a picnic area and campground open to the public year round.
There is an ongoing effort to preserve this bridge from demolition. The California Transportation Agency is intent on destroying the bridge and replacing it with a more modern concrete bridge. Many locals supported having the bridge placed on the National Register of Historic Places and are hoping its demolition can be prevented given the historic and unique nature of the Albion River Bridge and scenic nature of this remote region. It remains to be seen what happens.
The Albion River Bridge: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albion_River_Bridge
Exhibit "Honoring the Albion River Bridge" by Rita Crane
Residents of the Mendocino Coast are persevering in their efforts to protect the Albion River Bridge from being torn down and replaced with a modern concrete bridge. I was asked to put together a show to highlight this effort of preservation, showing the bridge from many angles and at different times of the day and night.
This historic timber trestle bridge is the last of its kind still being used in California along Highway One.
In the 1850's a logging operation processing the magnificent redwood trees was built at the mouth of the Albion River on the Albion Flats. The early settlers of the region crossed the Albion River with wagons and horses via steep narrow dirt tracks that went through the mill site and back up the equally steep opposite slope. Eventually it was decided to improve the difficult crossing and in 1944 the current tall timber trestle bridge was built. It was constructed from huge first growth Douglas fir beams. Wood was chosen for the building material because steel was scarce due to the ongoing war effort that required so much steel.
Today the Albion Flats and beach are a picnic area and campground open to the public year round.
There is an ongoing effort to preserve this bridge from demolition. The California Transportation Agency is intent on destroying the bridge and replacing it with a more modern concrete bridge. Many locals supported having the bridge placed on the National Register of Historic Places and are hoping its demolition can be prevented given the historic and unique nature of the Albion River Bridge and scenic nature of this remote region. It remains to be seen what happens.
The Albion River Bridge: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albion_River_Bridge