Bridging the gap: Cowley man shares passion for historical bridges

Cowley resident John Bernhisel has been fascinated by bridges ever since he was a kid growing up north of San Francisco. That fascination has grown into a passion to explore bridges around Wyoming, the country and the world.

Bernhisel said, "I grew up north of San Francisco and crossed the Golden Gate bridge all the time.  I was even able to run across the bridge in several races.  I loved how massive it was but also became interested in its engineering and aesthetics.  As I got older I started to realize how much bridges have played a part in history.

"Bridges intrigue me because they are a blend of art and engineering. They represent human ingenuity and the ability to connect places and people. Each bridge tells me a story about the time it was built, the challenges it overcame, and the communities it serves. This combination of history, design and engineering keeps my interest alive."

Bernhisel moved to Wyoming in 1989 and since then has read as much as he can about Wyoming history.

"Although not as impressive as the Golden Gate Bridge, Wyoming's bridges may have played a greater role in American history," he said.

So, how does Bernhisel go about finding bridges?

"My favorite thing is to follow the rivers and old railroad beds using the satellite feature on Google Maps and finding the old, abandoned bridges. Then I get on my mountain bike to get to the site. 

"This summer I walked (very slowly) over a 120-year-old railroad trestle in Montana that's been abandoned since the 1970s."

People often drive so quickly over bridges that they forget about the people who designed and built them, and how those structures transformed their communities, Bernhisel said.

"The first time I took a taxi over the Brooklyn Bridge, the driver sped across at 60 miles per hour. All I could think about was the 25 people who died during its construction and how the bridge was built long before cars were invented. One of the main reasons for its construction was to transport cattle from Long Island to butchers in Manhattan," he noted.

Most recently, Bernhisel has been reading everything he can about the 1908 Milwaukee to Seattle Railroad line. It went through central Montana and was mostly abandoned by the 1970s, he said. 

"Several of the bridges are part of popular bike paths today, but there are some near Butte and Helena that would take several hours of hiking to get to," Bernhisel noted.

FAVORITES

In his travels around the Big Horn Basin and Wyoming, Bernhisel has discovered a few of his favorites.

Big Horn County: "By far my favorite bridge in Big Horn County is the Old Rairden Lane Bridge.  It is about 20 miles north of Worland.  It was built in 1916 when the Model T was the best-selling car in America.  It is pretty sad now.  It's been abandoned since 1979," he said.

Park County: "I recently spent two days in Yellowstone exploring the historic bridges. I hiked a few hundred yards to see the remains of the 1871 Baronett Bridge over the Yellowstone River. This bridge was burned by Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce in 1877 to slow down the pursuing U.S. Army, but it was later rebuilt."

Washakie County: "The most beautiful to me is the Culbertson Bridge.  I'm sad it will be replaced.  I wish it could be converted into a walking or bike path, but I know how expensive that would be."

Hot Springs County: "The Swinging Bridge in Thermopolis. For a long time it was the main way that people would arrive at the famous hot springs. It is still fun for me to bounce across it."

Wyoming: "The greatest bridge Wyoming ever had was the Dale Creek Crossing south of Laramie.  It was built in 1868-69 as part of the Trans Continental Railroad.  It was one of the longest and highest bridges in the world at the time.  Unfortunately, the Wyoming winds were too much for it and it was torn down and bypassed.  The massive granite foundations are still visible."

OUTSIDE WYOMING

Going outside the state of Wyoming, Bernhisel said one of his favorites is the Mackinac Bridge in St. Ignace, Michigan, which was built in 1957. 

"We crossed it two years ago.  It is the longest suspension bridge in the U.S. It is hard to imagine how massive it is unless you see it. It is almost 5 miles long."

There are a few bridges in the U.S. that are older than 200 years, he said; adding, however, that in England there are bridges that have been used for more than 1,000 years. 

"I would love to spend a year just photographing bridges in England and Ireland.  I love the London Tower Bridge.

"The City of Cambridge, England was named that because it was where a bridge over the Cam River was built.  It was the most important thing in the area.  Whoever controlled the bridge could control all the commerce, even the armies and even what church the people followed."  

What does Bernhisel do with this bridge passion? He is in the process of developing a website featuring some of the bridges. He also does historical presentations, including one this spring at the Hot Springs County Museum.

He said, "I have done a few presentations. Mostly I like to talk about how important Wyoming's pathways were in settling the west and how important the bridges were. I have a slideshow of my favorite Wyoming and American bridges.

"I dream of someday writing a book about Wyoming's historic bridges. The book would highlight the historical significance of the bridges and their impact on local communities.  I might be the only one to read it, but it would be fun to compile."

Bernhisel, who works for Big Horn County School District No. 1, has been a teacher, librarian and cross-country coach. He also provides a trivia column for Big Horn Basin area newspapers including the Northern Wyoming News on the puzzle/comic page A10.