Silver Bridge Disaster Memorial

A part that is similar to a Silver Bridge eye bar. The eye bars did the job that suspension cables do in modern bridges. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)

Kung Fu Dracula (Atlas Obscura User)

These pieces have been here for over 50 years! rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)

A portion of a Silver Bridge eye bar that is used as a bench outside of the Pt. Pleasant, WV River Museum. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)

A memorial plaque on the West Virginia side of the river at Pt. Pleasant. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)

Another view of the eye bar bench. It is at least two inches thick. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)

This plaque describes the cause of the Silver Bridge collapse. The failed eye bar is in a testing and standards facility in Baltimore, MD. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)

Several pieces of the Silver Bridge concrete deck lie on the bank of the Ohio River. Notice the steel rebar sticking out of the concrete. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)

A larger piece of bridge deck, possibly from the sidewalk. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)

A closer view of the bridge deck. These pieces were probably left behind to protect the riverbank from erosion. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)

More concrete chunks with rebar sticking out. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)

A beautiful mural painted on the Pt. Pleasant flood wall, where the Silver Bridge once stood. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)

A memorial plaque at a rest stop near the disaster site. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)

Behind these signs stood the Ohio approach to the original Silver Bridge, completed in 1928. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)

A local newspaper article headlined the disaster on its front page. The Sunday Times Sentinel was published in Gallipolis, Ohio. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)

Many pieces of Silver Bridge road deck lay on the riverbank in Ohio. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)

This railroad bridge is still in service today. The grassy path leads to remaining Silver Bridge debris. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)

These thick slabs of concrete may have been a part of the Silver Bridge’s pedestrian walkway. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)

A closer look at the CSX Railroad bridge that is just upstream from the Silver Bridge site. It is still in use, but needs some work. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)

This is a fragment from the nameplate of the St Mary’s bridge. It was completed in 1928, the same year as the Silver Bridge. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)

This is the deck of the St Mary’s bridge, which is identical to that of the former Silver Bridge. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)

The Silver Bridge had a sister bridge at St Mary’s, WV. It was closed after the collapse of the Silver Bridge in 1967. The St Mary’s bridge was demolished in 1971. This section provides access to a nearby island. It is undergoing renovation. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)

A commemorative postcard of the original Silver Bridge, showing the soaring curve of its roadway. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)

This is a Silver Bridge toll ticket that has been in my family for years. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)

Here is a photo of the St Mary’s bridge after it had been permanently closed. It was the sister bridge to the Silver Bridge that collapsed in December, 1967. Both structures were built by the American Bridge Company from the same set of blueprints. The only difference was in the design of the bridge approaches. Charleston Gazette newspaper

This is the end of a Silver Bridge eyebar, along with a cylindrical pin that tied the eyebars together to form a suspension chain. This partial eyebar and pin were on display at the Pt. Pleasant, WV River Museum. The museum burned in July, 2018. The current status of this display is unknown. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)

Silver Bridge Memorial (Point Pleasant side) Kung Fu Dracula (Atlas Obscura User)

The failure of eyebar 330 in the north suspension chain caused the collapse of the Silver Bridge in December, 1967. Unknown government photographer. (Public Domain)

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The original Silver Bridge spanned the Ohio River between Point Pleasant, WV. and Kanauga, Ohio. It was completed in 1928 and stood until its collapse on December 15, 1967. Forty-six lives were lost due to the failure of an eyebar near the Ohio side of the river. As there was no redundancy in the bridge’s design, the failure of one component toppled the entire bridge.

The tragedy led to significant changes in regulations pertaining to bridge design and inspection schedules. A replacement bridge, the Silver Memorial Bridge, was dedicated in December 1969. The original bridge is associated with the Mothman myth, as the creature was allegedly sighted several times before the disaster.

Know Before You Go

The Ohio end of the former bridge is at the intersection of Ohio Route 7 N and Ohio Route 735. This location is now considered a part of Gallipolis, OH. There is a mowed path beside the railroad bridge that leads toward the riverbank. Follow the mowed path as it makes a right turn and dead ends near the riverbank. The Silver Bridge debris is still visible in the undergrowth. Please keep in mind this is undeveloped private property. It is not posted at this time. The use of a four wheel drive vehicle is advisable. On the West Virginia side, State Route 62 runs directly through Pt. Pleasant. Their memorials are across Main Street from the Mason County Courthouse.