Washington Avenue Bridge (Waco, Texas)
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Washington Avenue Bridge | |
 Washington Avenue Bridge in 2012 | |
  Washington Avenue Bridge  Washington Avenue Bridge | |
| Location | Washington and Elm Aves. across Brazos River, Waco, Texas |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 31°33′40″N 97°7′43″W / 31.56111°N 97.12861°W |
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1902 |
| Architect | J.H. Sparks |
| Architectural style | Pennsylvania through-truss |
| NRHP reference No. | 98000143[1] |
| Added to NRHP | February 20, 1998 |
The Washington Avenue Bridge in Waco, Texas was built in 1902 and was then the longest single-span vehicular truss bridge in Texas. It has a 450-foot (140 m) span across the Brazos River. It provided for traffic circulation in addition to that provided by the 1870-built Waco Suspension Bridge one block downriver (east).[2]
The bridge cost $93,399 for its construction, not including $1,850 for railings and approach spans. Its cost was split by McLennan County and the City of Waco, which became equal owners.[2]
A Black man named Sank Majors was lynched at the bridge in 1905, hung from a crossbeam by a white mob. Another Black man, Jim Lawyer, was attacked for objecting to the lynching. Texas Rangers looked on the violence and did not intervene.[3]
The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.[1]
