Old Chain of Rocks Bridge Panorama Metal Print

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A view of the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge and St Louis water intake towers from the Mississippi River.

The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge was named after the 17-mile long shoal in the river, called the Chain of Rocks, a series of underwater rock ledges that create rapids making boat navigation extremely dangerous.

The bridge was constructed near the enchanting water intake towers for the Chain of Rocks pumping station, and it is infamous for its unusual 30-degree bend near its center. At 5353 feet long, slightly longer than a mile, it is one of the longest continuous steel truss bridges in the United States. It is also the longest Route 66 river crossing. The piers for the bridge are 55 feet above the Mississippi River's high water mark, giving you a view of the St Louis Arch above the trees some 20+ miles away.

Copyright 2022 Susan Rissi Tregoning

I'm a travel photographer that enjoys photographing United States architecture, nature, and transportation. As the 8th photographer in 4 generations of my family, I don't remember a time when photography was not part of my life. By the time I was five years old, I was standing on a stool in the darkroom, helping my dad develop pictures. It was my job to transfer the photos from the hypo to the water bath. I went to college for interior design. After I graduated, I had a long successful career as an art buyer and designer for a large home furnishings company. In 2006, I had a significant life change. My husband became a medical traveler, and I decided to put my career on hold to tag along. In the process, I found my roots again. What...