Published Feb 10, 2016

These 9 Unbelievable Ruins In Texas Will Transport You To The Past

Explore nine breathtaking abandoned ruins in Texas, each with its own unique history and beauty.

Published Feb 10, 2016

Written by

Katie Lawrence

State Pride|History

Updated Jun 21, 2024

Once The Tallest Bridge In America, Texas’ Pecos High Bridge Was A True Feat Of Engineering

The Pecos High Bridge, once the tallest bridge in America, was a remarkable engineering feat in Texas history.

Updated Jun 21, 2024

Written by

Katie Lawrence

Did you know the tallest bridge in America was once right here in Texas? Before it was dismantled in the mid-1900s, the Pecos High Bridge stood at an impressive height of 322 feet. Today, we remember this remarkable feat of engineering and revel in the legacy the highest bridge in Texas left behind. Let's take a closer look at Pecos Bridge, the tallest bridge in Texas.

Once the tallest bridge in Texas - and the tallest bridge in America, as a matter of fact - the Pecos High Bridge was completed in 1892.

alt — Wikimedia Commons/Unknown photographer - California State Library, Record No 001387684

Better known as the Pecos Viaduct, the bridge served the Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway (the first southern transcontinental railroad in the nation) until World War II, when a newer bridge replaced it.

The bridge was just over 322 feet tall, making it the third-highest bridge in the entire world.

alt — Wikimedia Commons/Joseph E. B. Elliot

It was a true feat of engineering; much less expensive and more functional than the first bridge spanning the Pecos River.

It took 67 people to build the cantilever bridge, and construction lasted just 103 days.

alt — Wikimedia Commons/Elliot, Joseph E.

The final cost was around $250,000 - not bad for a 2,180-foot-long manmade marvel whose ironwork alone weighed over 1,800 tons!

The Southern Pacific Railroad built a station adjacent to the bridge in 1922, and it was around this time that officials realized the bridge could not continue to hold its weight under the rapidly increasing traffic load.

alt — Wikimedia Commons/Robert Yarnall Richie

A site for the new bridge was chosen in 1942, and work began the following year. In December 1944, the 1.2-million-dollar bridge was complete, and it opened to rail traffic shortly thereafter.

Still in use today, and new and improved Pecos High Bridge has shown no signs of deterioration.

alt — Wikimedia Commons/Elliot, Joseph E.

Although the original bridge was dismantled in 1948, its 56-year tenure is something to admire.

You can see the current Pecos High Bridge across the Pecos River Gorge, carrying the Union Pacific Railroad.

It isn't open to vehicular traffic, but it's still a sight worth marveling at.

alt — Wikimedia Commons/Robert Yarnall Richie

Get more history about the Pecos High Bridge on the National Park Service website. Have you ever seen the tallest bridge in Texas in person? Tell us your thoughts in the comments! Head out on the road to see and maybe drive across more amazing bridges in Texas:

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/texas/bridges-tx/

State Pride|History

Updated Jun 20, 2024

Here Are Several Historic Photos Of Texas And They’re Incredible

A collection of historic photos from Texas showcases scenes from the 1860s to the 1940s, highlighting various aspects of life and landmarks.

Updated Jun 20, 2024

Written by

Katie Lawrence

Thanks to the plethora of files in Wikimedia Commons and images preserved in the Library of Congress, there's quite an archive of images documenting the history of the Lone Star State. We've compiled some of the most amazing historic Texas photos that we could find, depicting scenes from old drugstores to telephone operators and everything in between. Take a look!

1. San Antonio, 1860s. People in covered wagons arrive at Alamo Plaza.

2. Huntsville, 1870s. Men, wagons, and livestock are on a downtown street. Business pictured include T & S Gibbs, Eastman Pace & Parish, and James R. Cox.

3. Huntsville, ca. 1873-1875. Inmates line up in the yard of the Texas State Penitentiary.

4. Huntsville, 1870s. The corner of Twelfth St. and University Ave. The building pictured houses Poe and Wright's Photograph Gallery upstairs and the city's first bankers, Smith and Wynne, downstairs.

5. El Paso, ca. 1882-1895. A Mexican Carreta travels down a street.

6. El Paso, ca. 1885. Army men line up outside Fort Bliss.

7. Beaumont, 1911. A boat is docked at Riverfront Park.

8. Richardson, ca. 1900. A young woman works as a Telephone Exchange operator.

9. Richardson, ca. 1900. Employees work at a drugstore, anxiously awaiting the arrival of customers.

10. Galveston, ca. 1918-1928. Tourists and residents line the seawall, enjoying the sunny day.

11. Panhandle, 1920s. A dust storm rolls in on a lonely highway. One car is pictured on the road.

12. Houston, 1943. An old house is pictured with an apple stand in the front yard and a horse-and-buggy in the street.

13. San Augustine, 1943. Three schoolchildren stand around a globe. A WWII propaganda poster is pictured in the background.

What did you think of these old Texas photos? Does anything look familiar?

For more historic Texas photos, check out these pictures taken during the Great Depression. Looking at these old photos and considering our state's history really makes you think about your Texas roots, doesn't it?

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These 9 Unbelievable Ruins In Texas Will Transport You To The Past

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Once The Tallest Bridge In America, Texas’ Pecos High Bridge Was A True Feat Of Engineering

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Here Are Several Historic Photos Of Texas And They’re Incredible

1. San Antonio, 1860s. People in covered wagons arrive at Alamo Plaza.

2. Huntsville, 1870s. Men, wagons, and livestock are on a downtown street. Business pictured include T & S Gibbs, Eastman Pace & Parish, and James R. Cox.

3. Huntsville, ca. 1873-1875. Inmates line up in the yard of the Texas State Penitentiary.

4. Huntsville, 1870s. The corner of Twelfth St. and University Ave. The building pictured houses Poe and Wright's Photograph Gallery upstairs and the city's first bankers, Smith and Wynne, downstairs.

5. El Paso, ca. 1882-1895. A Mexican Carreta travels down a street.

6. El Paso, ca. 1885. Army men line up outside Fort Bliss.

7. Beaumont, 1911. A boat is docked at Riverfront Park.

8. Richardson, ca. 1900. A young woman works as a Telephone Exchange operator.

9. Richardson, ca. 1900. Employees work at a drugstore, anxiously awaiting the arrival of customers.

10. Galveston, ca. 1918-1928. Tourists and residents line the seawall, enjoying the sunny day.

11. Panhandle, 1920s. A dust storm rolls in on a lonely highway. One car is pictured on the road.

12. Houston, 1943. An old house is pictured with an apple stand in the front yard and a horse-and-buggy in the street.

13. San Augustine, 1943. Three schoolchildren stand around a globe. A WWII propaganda poster is pictured in the background.

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Get the latest updates and news

All Stories

This Roller Rink in Small-Town Iowa Is the Epitome of Americana

5 Last-Minute Getaways In Mississippi For A Fun End-Of-Summer Retreat

This Louisiana Dining Experience Has Been Called One of the Best Restaurants in the U.S.

9 Things That Belong On Everyone’s Arkansas Summer Bucket List

This Panoramic-View Cocktail Bar in Kansas City, Missouri is a Must-Visit