America’s Last Remaining Train Trestle Bridge Is Hiding In Small-Town Texas
Texas is home to countless historic landmarks, but this one is truly a hidden gem. The small town of Jefferson is hiding an astounding secret: America’s last remaining train trestle bridge. It even lights up in all different colors after dark!
Built in 1897, the Howe Truss Train Trestle has undeniably stood the test of time. It was constructed in Pennsylvania by the Phoenix Bridge Company before being transferred to Jefferson a decade later.
Today, it sits tall and proud as ever over the Big Cypress Bayou. Although rust has overtaken most of its beams, the structure's actual integrity has hardly been compromised after all these years.
Although trains haven't traversed the bridge in quite a while, you can still see what's left of the tracks. Imagine how peaceful this route must've been, with lush greenery all around, the sound of wind gently moving the water current along, and no big cities for miles.
Perhaps the neatest thing about this historic landmark can only be seen after dark. From dusk until dawn each night, a spectacular LED light show projects several different colors onto the bridge.
Installed by Longview Lights in June of 2018, the show made its debut on July 4. The crowd went absolutely wild, and thousands more have since been wowed.
Katie Lawrence is a Southeast Texas native who graduated 18th in her high school class with a GPA of 4.25. She attended college in the Houston area and changed her major twice (psychology, computer science, and finally criminal justice) before taking a leap of faith and dropping out to pursue a career in freelance writing.
Today, Katie writes for the Texas and Arizona pages of OnlyInYourState.com and has never been more passionate about a job before. Outside of work, you can likely find her curled up on the sofa with a hot cup of coffee, watching a crime TV show or scary movie.
