{"name":"Waco Suspension Bridge","city":"Waco, Texas","canonical_url":"https://gydeinfo.com/waco/places/waco-suspension-bridge/","markdown_url":"https://gydeinfo.com/waco/places/waco-suspension-bridge.md","updated_at":"2026-06-17T21:02:43.138540+00:00","facts":[{"claim":"The Waco Suspension Bridge was completed in 1869 and was 475 feet long, making it the first major suspension bridge in Texas.","citation":"https://www.asce.org/publications-and-news/civil-engineering-source/civil-engineering-magazine/article/2021/12/completed-in-1869-the-waco-suspension-bridge-is-now-being-restored","source_title":"The Chisholm Trail Cattle Drives","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"anecdote","retrieved_at":"2026-06-17T19:06:21.298469+00:00"},{"claim":"The bridge crossed the Brazos River and became a crucial link in the Chisholm Trail, helping connect Texas cattle ranchers to railroads in Kansas.","citation":"https://www.asce.org/publications-and-news/civil-engineering-source/civil-engineering-magazine/article/2021/12/completed-in-1869-the-waco-suspension-bridge-is-now-being-restored","source_title":"The Chisholm Trail Cattle Drives","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"anecdote","retrieved_at":"2026-06-17T19:06:21.298469+00:00"},{"claim":"The Chisholm Trail was used by Texas drovers from 1867 to 1884 to move livestock north to markets in Kansas after the Civil War.","citation":"https://www.asce.org/publications-and-news/civil-engineering-source/civil-engineering-magazine/article/2021/12/completed-in-1869-the-waco-suspension-bridge-is-now-being-restored","source_title":"The Chisholm Trail Cattle Drives","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"anecdote","retrieved_at":"2026-06-17T19:06:21.298469+00:00"},{"claim":"In Waco, the bridge provided a safe cattle crossing of the Brazos River and reportedly charged a toll of five cents per head for cattle.","citation":"https://www.asce.org/publications-and-news/civil-engineering-source/civil-engineering-magazine/article/2021/12/completed-in-1869-the-waco-suspension-bridge-is-now-being-restored","source_title":"The Chisholm Trail Cattle Drives","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"anecdote","retrieved_at":"2026-06-17T19:06:21.298469+00:00"},{"claim":"The Library of Congress/Historic American Engineering Record states that when completed in 1869, the 475-foot Waco Suspension Bridge was the state's first major suspension bridge and the first bridge to span the Brazos River in Waco.","citation":"https://www.asce.org/publications-and-news/civil-engineering-source/civil-engineering-magazine/article/2021/12/completed-in-1869-the-waco-suspension-bridge-is-now-being-restored","source_title":"The Chisholm Trail Cattle Drives","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"anecdote","retrieved_at":"2026-06-17T19:06:21.298469+00:00"},{"claim":"Baylor’s *Mapping Waco* exhibit states that the Chisholm Trail crossed the Waco Suspension Bridge and continued on to Fort Worth.","citation":"https://digitalcollections-baylor.quartexcollections.com/mapping-waco-a-brief-history-1845-1913-exhibit-1","source_title":"The Chisholm Trail","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"anecdote","retrieved_at":"2026-06-17T19:05:07.958510+00:00"},{"claim":"The Waco Suspension Bridge is described as a city landmark and as the main river crossing for the famed Chisholm Trail.","citation":"https://digitalcollections-baylor.quartexcollections.com/mapping-waco-a-brief-history-1845-1913-exhibit-1","source_title":"The Chisholm Trail","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"anecdote","retrieved_at":"2026-06-17T19:05:07.958510+00:00"},{"claim":"The Waco History Project says Waco was on the Chisholm Trail, indicating cattle herding became a major local business after the Civil War.","citation":"https://digitalcollections-baylor.quartexcollections.com/mapping-waco-a-brief-history-1845-1913-exhibit-1","source_title":"The Chisholm Trail","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"anecdote","retrieved_at":"2026-06-17T19:05:07.958510+00:00"},{"claim":"The Chisholm Trail was a real post-Civil War cattle trail used from roughly 1867 to 1884 to move livestock from Texas north to Kansas rail markets.","citation":"https://digitalcollections-baylor.quartexcollections.com/mapping-waco-a-brief-history-1845-1913-exhibit-1","source_title":"The Chisholm Trail","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"anecdote","retrieved_at":"2026-06-17T19:05:07.958510+00:00"},{"claim":"Texas Time Travel identifies the Chisholm Trail as the cattle route named for Jesse Chisholm, whose trading activity helped establish part of the route.","citation":"https://digitalcollections-baylor.quartexcollections.com/mapping-waco-a-brief-history-1845-1913-exhibit-1","source_title":"The Chisholm Trail","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"anecdote","retrieved_at":"2026-06-17T19:05:07.958510+00:00"},{"claim":"The Waco Suspension Bridge was completed in 1870 and is a landmark of downtown Waco.","citation":"https://www.waco-texas.com/Departments/Parks-Recreation/Suspension-Bridge-Riverwalk-Area","source_title":"The Chisholm Trail","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"anecdote","retrieved_at":"2026-06-17T19:04:35.155098+00:00"},{"claim":"For years, the Waco Suspension Bridge served as a Chisholm Trail crossing.","citation":"https://www.waco-texas.com/Departments/Parks-Recreation/Suspension-Bridge-Riverwalk-Area","source_title":"The Chisholm Trail","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"anecdote","retrieved_at":"2026-06-17T19:04:35.155098+00:00"},{"claim":"The Chisholm Trail was a real post-Civil War cattle-driving route used from about 1867 to 1884 to move livestock from Texas to railheads in Kansas.","citation":"https://www.waco-texas.com/Departments/Parks-Recreation/Suspension-Bridge-Riverwalk-Area","source_title":"The Chisholm Trail","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"anecdote","retrieved_at":"2026-06-17T19:04:35.155098+00:00"},{"claim":"Waco was an important crossing point on the Brazos River for travelers and ranchers moving along the Chisholm Trail.","citation":"https://www.waco-texas.com/Departments/Parks-Recreation/Suspension-Bridge-Riverwalk-Area","source_title":"The Chisholm Trail","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"anecdote","retrieved_at":"2026-06-17T19:04:35.155098+00:00"},{"claim":"When completed, the Waco Suspension Bridge was the longest single-span suspension bridge west of the Mississippi River.","citation":"https://www.waco-texas.com/Departments/Parks-Recreation/Suspension-Bridge-Riverwalk-Area","source_title":"The Chisholm Trail","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"anecdote","retrieved_at":"2026-06-17T19:04:35.155098+00:00"},{"claim":"The Waco Suspension Bridge was officially opened on January 7, 1870, and it was a toll bridge.","citation":"https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/waco-suspension-bridge","source_title":"The Toll Bridge That Turned Waco Into a Cattle Town","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"anecdote","retrieved_at":"2026-06-17T19:04:20.760347+00:00"},{"claim":"The bridge’s opening was marked by a parade led by Kate Ross, showing it was a notable civic event in Waco’s history.","citation":"https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/waco-suspension-bridge","source_title":"The Toll Bridge That Turned Waco Into a Cattle Town","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"anecdote","retrieved_at":"2026-06-17T19:04:20.760347+00:00"},{"claim":"The bridge was built with cable supplied by the John Roebling Company, the firm associated with the Brooklyn Bridge.","citation":"https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/waco-suspension-bridge","source_title":"The Toll Bridge That Turned Waco Into a Cattle Town","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"anecdote","retrieved_at":"2026-06-17T19:04:20.760347+00:00"},{"claim":"The bridge became a crucial link in the Chisholm Trail and helped establish Waco’s fortunes as a cattle town.","citation":"https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/waco-suspension-bridge","source_title":"The Toll Bridge That Turned Waco Into a Cattle Town","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"anecdote","retrieved_at":"2026-06-17T19:04:20.760347+00:00"},{"claim":"When completed, the bridge was the longest single-span suspension bridge west of the Mississippi River.","citation":"https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/waco-suspension-bridge","source_title":"The Toll Bridge That Turned Waco Into a Cattle Town","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"anecdote","retrieved_at":"2026-06-17T19:04:20.760347+00:00"},{"claim":"The Waco Suspension Bridge was once the longest single-span suspension bridge west of the Mississippi.","citation":"https://www.kupi.com/en-ae/explore/united-states/waco","source_title":"Waco Travel Guide – Magnolia Silos, Dining & Attractions - kupi.com","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"facts_with_citation","retrieved_at":"2026-06-17T19:03:25.704712+00:00","fact_type":"significance"},{"claim":"The Waco Suspension Bridge is a historic bridge that played a crucial role in the development of Waco.","citation":"https://www.foratravel.com/guides/LGNF48/unveiling-the-charms-of-waco-a-travelers-guide-to-hidden-gems-gillian-spatz","source_title":"Unveiling the Charms of Waco: A Traveler's Guide to Hidden Gems","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"facts_with_citation","retrieved_at":"2026-06-17T19:03:24.867713+00:00","fact_type":"significance"},{"claim":"The Waco Suspension Bridge was created to solve the dangerous and time-consuming task of crossing the Brazos River by ferry.","citation":"https://www.dvidshub.net/news/468775/waco-landmark-celebrates-citys-rich-history","source_title":"Waco landmark celebrates city's rich history - DVIDS","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"facts_with_citation","retrieved_at":"2026-06-17T19:03:24.055263+00:00","fact_type":"history"},{"claim":"The bridge is surrounded by Martin Luther King Jr. Park on the east side and Indian Spring Park on the west side.","citation":"https://www.dvidshub.net/news/468775/waco-landmark-celebrates-citys-rich-history","source_title":"Waco landmark celebrates city's rich history - DVIDS","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"facts_with_citation","retrieved_at":"2026-06-17T19:03:24.055263+00:00","fact_type":"location"},{"claim":"The Waco Suspension Bridge is located in the River District.","citation":"https://waco.web.baylor.edu/waco-guides/waco-culture-guide/districts","source_title":"Districts | Waco - Baylor University","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"facts_with_citation","retrieved_at":"2026-06-17T19:03:23.194790+00:00","fact_type":"location"},{"claim":"The Waco Suspension Bridge is a single-span suspension bridge over the Brazos River.","citation":"https://texastimetravel.com/cities/waco/","source_title":"Waco | Texas Time Travel","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"facts_with_citation","retrieved_at":"2026-06-17T19:03:22.356592+00:00","fact_type":"architecture"},{"claim":"The bridge helped transport numerous head of cattle.","citation":"https://texastimetravel.com/cities/waco/","source_title":"Waco | Texas Time Travel","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"facts_with_citation","retrieved_at":"2026-06-17T19:03:22.356592+00:00","fact_type":"significance"},{"claim":"The Waco Suspension Bridge is located in the River District.","citation":"https://hr.web.baylor.edu/sites/g/files/ecbvkj1046/files/2023-04/waco_culture_guide_v16.pdf","source_title":"[PDF] Waco Culture Guide - Baylor Human Resources","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"facts_with_citation","retrieved_at":"2026-06-17T19:03:21.533391+00:00","fact_type":"location"}],"sources":[{"title":"The Chisholm Trail Cattle Drives","url":"https://www.asce.org/publications-and-news/civil-engineering-source/civil-engineering-magazine/article/2021/12/completed-in-1869-the-waco-suspension-bridge-is-now-being-restored","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"anecdote","retrieved_at":"2026-06-17T19:06:21.298469+00:00","license":"unknown"},{"title":"The Chisholm Trail","url":"https://digitalcollections-baylor.quartexcollections.com/mapping-waco-a-brief-history-1845-1913-exhibit-1","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"anecdote","retrieved_at":"2026-06-17T19:05:07.958510+00:00","license":"unknown"},{"title":"The Chisholm Trail","url":"https://www.waco-texas.com/Departments/Parks-Recreation/Suspension-Bridge-Riverwalk-Area","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"anecdote","retrieved_at":"2026-06-17T19:04:35.155098+00:00","license":"unknown"},{"title":"The Toll Bridge That Turned Waco Into a Cattle Town","url":"https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/waco-suspension-bridge","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"anecdote","retrieved_at":"2026-06-17T19:04:20.760347+00:00","license":"unknown"},{"title":"Waco Travel Guide – Magnolia Silos, Dining & Attractions - kupi.com","url":"https://www.kupi.com/en-ae/explore/united-states/waco","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"facts_with_citation","retrieved_at":"2026-06-17T19:03:25.704712+00:00","license":"unknown"},{"title":"Unveiling the Charms of Waco: A Traveler's Guide to Hidden Gems","url":"https://www.foratravel.com/guides/LGNF48/unveiling-the-charms-of-waco-a-travelers-guide-to-hidden-gems-gillian-spatz","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"facts_with_citation","retrieved_at":"2026-06-17T19:03:24.867713+00:00","license":"unknown"},{"title":"Waco landmark celebrates city's rich history - DVIDS","url":"https://www.dvidshub.net/news/468775/waco-landmark-celebrates-citys-rich-history","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"facts_with_citation","retrieved_at":"2026-06-17T19:03:24.055263+00:00","license":"unknown"},{"title":"Districts | Waco - Baylor University","url":"https://waco.web.baylor.edu/waco-guides/waco-culture-guide/districts","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"facts_with_citation","retrieved_at":"2026-06-17T19:03:23.194790+00:00","license":"unknown"},{"title":"Waco | Texas Time Travel","url":"https://texastimetravel.com/cities/waco/","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"facts_with_citation","retrieved_at":"2026-06-17T19:03:22.356592+00:00","license":"unknown"},{"title":"[PDF] Waco Culture Guide - Baylor Human Resources","url":"https://hr.web.baylor.edu/sites/g/files/ecbvkj1046/files/2023-04/waco_culture_guide_v16.pdf","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"facts_with_citation","retrieved_at":"2026-06-17T19:03:21.533391+00:00","license":"unknown"}],"commercial_actions":[],"source_policy":{"booking_links_are_evidence":false,"denied_as_evidence":["google_places","google","yelp","tripadvisor"],"allowed_uses":["canonical_data","facts_with_citation","anecdote"]}}