Happy 100th birthday to Fort Smith's main bridge

Happy birthday to the Garrison Avenue Bridge.

Fort Smith's main bridge over the Arkansas River turned 100 years old on Wednesday, May 11.

A parade of vintage cars will celebrate the milestone Saturday afternoon.

A partnership between the Fort Smith Museum of History, the Fort Smith Historical Society, and the Fort Smith National Historic Site brings a 100th Anniversary commemorative celebration of the 1922 “Million Dollar Free Bridge” to the Frisco Station in Fort Smith on Saturday, May 14 at 1:30 p.m.

Also, 2 p.m. Sunday, historian Al Whitson will present the story of the bridge construction at the Regional Art Museum as part of the Landmark Series that celebrates the paintings of John Bell, a Fort Smith artist who depicted the bridge in paintings.

The event is free and open to the public. Adding to the festivities is the Fort Smith Regional Art Museum and the Fort Smith Antique Automobile Club along with a special guest, Mayor George McGill, and visits by the 1922 Fort Smith Mayor, Fagan Bourland portrayed by reenactor Matt Hutchinson and the 1922 Queen Louise Golden, portrayed by reenactor Susie Brooks. A final program by a Fort Smith National Park Service park ranger will wrap up the afternoon.

Over the two-day period of May 11th and 12th back in 1922, the largest celebration in Fort Smith history occurred in recognition of the opening and dedication of the Garrison Avenue “Million Dollar” Free Bridge. Governors from both Arkansas and Oklahoma were present for the christening and dedication of the bridge, as a flight of eight Army biplanes performed maneuvers overhead. Over 20,000 people were present in the city to observe and participate in the two-day long celebration culminating years of back breaking labor, legal battles, and cooperation between states in the creation of the iconic bridge.

An article by Al Whitson in the Fort Smith Historical Society’s April 2022 edition of The Journal details the massive undertaking:

“The completed bridge was 3,173 feet long, consisting of twelve girder spans totaling 498.33 feet, fourteen arch spans totaling 2,047.25 feet and two smaller arch spans totaling 424.5 feet and a retaining wall on the Arkansas side that was 203.33 feet. The overall width of the bridge was 41 feet, of which 28 feet comprised the roadway and thirteen feet (6.5 feet each side) was sidewalk. Total finished bridge contained 20,000 cubic yards of concrete and 784 tons of reinforcing steel.”

This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Happy 100 to the Fort Smith bridge