Pearl Street Bridge

"The story of Pearl Street Bridge is one I share constantly on my #ToursAroundMichigan experiences during the #CityTour #HistoryTour or #RIverfrontTour. The 1883 log jam went to the bridge's roof in the historic event Pearl street also ends at a building built from the rocks that used to make the rapids."

"I walked across this bridge and it held. I couldn't ask for a better designed crossing!"

"During art prize this was wonderful"

"Magnificent bridge. Absolutely superb. Your entire day will be brightened once you drive over this bridge."

"The history that is around us in the city is Amazing. The pearl street bridge was once the location at the center of the Great Log Jam of 1883. As many of you know, Grand Rapids was a great furniture city and lumber producing state. Loggers would float logs down the Grand River to be picked up and shipped out on Railroads. In spring of 1883, the river rose 20 inches which made for great logging conditions. Loggers took advantage of the great logging and sent extra logs down the river. The rising river and the extra logs were the perfect combination for a jam and jam It did! 1.5 million feet of boards were jammed into the river. 30 feet deep by 7 miles long. The jam lasted for 4 days as loggers worked in perilous conditions where one wrong step would mean falling to your doom and being crushed or by the logs that would shoot straight up into the air. The jam was eventually cleared by dredging a new 35 foot channel to help relieve the pressure, but that was not before two railroad bridges above Fulton street and wealthy street were destroyed. The first bridge was built in 1858, the current bridge was made in the 1970's atop the original foundations. The foundations seen today are not nearly that old, but still very old. Who knew how much history was right under your feet!"