Almost any old bridge would have a story to tell if they could talk. The Bridge at Iverson Crossing in Brandon, South Dakota is no different. The bridge was built in 1897 as a replacement to a different bridge that was washed out 8 years prior due to a flood. The bridge allowed travelers from the East to get across the Big Sioux River on Iverson Road to Sioux Falls.
Traffic was rerouted away from the bridge in 1982 and it was no longer needed, but the bridge was saved preserved over the years thanks to the efforts of the late Aaron Jay Munson. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in July 1996. Now the bridge sits along private property on the East side and is not accessible from the West. For many years “No Trespassing” signs were scattered around the bridge to keep visitors away, but the new owner seems a little more welcoming as there are welcome markers posted near the historical marker.
Finding the bridge is a bit difficult as there is only one small residential road you can use to get to where you can clearly see the bridge. Parking my car on the grass was my only option and didn’t seem to bother any of the neighbors.
Walking along the bridge, one can appreciate the little details in the bridge such as the markings by the builder, Carnegie Steele, and a large light star decoration, obviously added by the private owner.
Standing in the middle of the bridge and watching the current of the Big Sioux River provided a relaxing moment away from worrying if the private owner would be out to tell me to get lost. For a moment, I thought about all of the people and vehicles over the years that had to use this bridge to get across the river.
Whether you’re a bridge enthusiast or not, I think everybody can appreciate the importance and history this bridge served to the Sioux Falls area.