Chain of Rocks Bridge
St Louis, MO
Photos courtesy Jane Linders

The Chain of Rocks Bridge gives Route 66 travelers one of the Mother Road’s more unusual crossings. Stretching across the Mississippi River near St. Louis, the steel bridge takes a noticeable bend partway across. It’s a feature that makes you look twice and probably made truck drivers grip the wheel a little tighter.

Construction began in 1927, and the bridge opened in July 1929 after floods and ice delayed completion. Route 66 was routed across it in 1936, making the span a familiar gateway between Illinois and Missouri.

That famous bend had practical reasons behind it. A straight crossing presented problems with river navigation near the water-intake towers, while unsuitable bedrock complicated pier placement. The bridge’s name came from the rocky river ledges that once made this stretch especially difficult for boat traffic.

After a newer interstate crossing opened upstream, the old bridge lost its automobile traffic. Demolition threatened during the 1970s, but falling scrap-steel prices helped spare it. Movie fans may recognize the weathered structure from John Carpenter’s Escape from New York, filmed here in 1980.

Old Chain of Rocks Postcard
St Louis, MO
Photo courtesy Jane Linders

Restoration brought the bridge back as a walking and cycling crossing in 1999, and it joined the National Register of Historic Places in 2006. The Missouri approach gained another attraction in April 2024 with the opening of the 16-acre Chain of Rocks Park, including a picnic pavilion, artwork, and restored natural areas.

UPDATE: The historic bridge remains open to pedestrians and cyclists. As of October 2026, construction on the separate Illinois canal bridge blocks access from that side, so visitors must approach through Missouri’s Chain of Rocks Park. Fortunately, this old Route 66 landmark still offers a chance to cross the Mississippi at a much more leisurely pace. 10-26

Old Chain of Rocks Bridge St Louis, MO Photo courtesy Jane Linders	Old Chain of Rocks Bridge St Louis, MO Photo courtesy Jane Linders

Tiger Stadium (Demolished)
Detroit, MI
Photo courtesy Mark Hackett

What you may ask does a photo of old Tiger Stadium have to do in a roadside icons page? Well, until the Retrolook Midwest section is sprouted up, it belongs here, with other eye-catching icons of the Midwest. 04-01

Tiger Stadium opened on April 20, 1912 on the same day as Fenway Park. The park was originally named Navin Field and Brigs Stadium until being called tiger Stadium in 1961. Tiger Stadium was home to the Detroit Tigers until 1999, when the nearby Comerica Park sprouted and opened in 2000. Word is the stadium will be demolished sometime in 2008.

Check out the Spotlight From the Road feature on Tiger Stadium. 07-08

Downtown Ashtabula and Fire
Ashtabula, OH
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

On the right is a view of downtown Ashtabula, OH. A historic bridge can be seen in the back.

Though the fire looks rather ominous, this burning house was part of a string of homes set ablaze for practice. 01-07

Here's a view of Ashtabula Harbor in Ashtabula, OH. The historic lift bridge in the background has become one of the city's best-known landmarks, giving this old waterfront district plenty of character. It's the kind of bridge that's worth hanging around to watch when it swings open for river traffic. 01-07

Downtown Ashtabula and Fire
Ashtabula, OH
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

The second photo may look alarming, but the burning house was actually part of a controlled training exercise by the Ashtabula Fire Department. Vacant homes slated for demolition were intentionally burned so firefighters could train under real-world conditions.

UPDATE: Ashtabula Harbor has been beautifully revitalized with shops, restaurants, and riverfront attractions, while the historic lift bridge continues to operate as one of Ohio's most unique crossings. 07-26