The 1912 Causeway: Continuing To Bridge The Bay

The definition for causeway is a raised road or track across a low or wet ground , which doesn't necessarily have to be a bridge . The definition for bridge is a structure carrying a road , path , railroad or canal across a river , ravine , road , railroad or other obstacle . So regardless of what term you use , causeway or bridge , I think either one is fine .

The following is an excerpt from the New Era , a Marfa Texas newspaper , printed on June 1 , 1912 . Quote A monument to Galveston's perseverance and everlasting grit . Passengers or tourists who wish to visit Galveston , either on business or pleasure bent , are now afforded safe transportation over two miles of saltwater between Galveston and the mainland .

There will no longer be delay of traffic or danger of loss of life in coming to Galveston , the playground of the nation and the Atlantic City of the South . Galveston is now placed in easy and safe access to the tourists and pleasure seekers of the continent . With such a structure of earth , steel and concrete connecting island and mainland .

Galveston Island is , in effect , made into a peninsula . Although not the first bridge connecting Galveston to the mainland , this brand new 1912 causeway was a big deal for Galveston Island . This arched concrete bridge was built in 1912 and was Galveston's first causeway , designed for automobile and rail traffic .

This causeway was an important advancement for Galveston as it gave tourists and commercial cargo an entirely new way to bridge the gap between Galveston and the rest of North America . Let's take a step back to some of the first bridges connecting Galveston to the mainland .

All of the bridges and causeways to and from Galveston have all pretty much been in the same area , spanning the shortest distance across Galveston Bay from Galveston Island to the mainland , as the Port of Galveston saw an influx in cargo imports and exports through the late 1800s and railroads began to boom across Texas and the western United States .

The first bridge linking Galveston Island to the mainland was a railroad bridge , finished in 1860 , but it was destroyed in a hurricane not long after Replacement . Railroad bridges were built in 1869 and again in 1877 , both made from basic timber trestles .

As hurricanes would pass over or near Galveston Island , these bridges would be damaged or washed out and would incur costly repairs . In 1893 , a new type of bridge was constructed . The 1893 design could accommodate horse-drawn wagons as well as foot traffic .

Although the wagon bridge was built with sturdy steel and concrete , this bridge was destroyed during the storm and concrete . This bridge was destroyed during the storm of 1900 , disconnecting Galveston from the mainland and making it extremely difficult to provide aid to Galvestonians after the 1900 storm .

After the storm of 1900 , galveston worked hard to rebuild a safer island , not only for its citizens but also for commerce .

The post-1900 storm plan included powerful structural features for the island , including a seawall to protect from powerful hurricane waves , a grade-raising elevating most of the urbanized portion of Galveston Island to protect from storm surge , and a new robust causeway .

The early 20th century brought so many changes to the world and Galveston , and one of the most drastic changes relating to bridges were automobiles . Work on the new causeway began in 1908 and took several years to complete .

Previous bridges to the mainland were primarily made out of timber , but the 1912 causeway used steel and reinforced concrete arches spanning 70 feet each . It supported two railroad tracks one track for the Galveston-Houston Interurban and the other for commercial rail lines and two narrow lanes for the county highway At the time of the bridge's construction .

Automobiles were really coming into popularity throughout the United States and Galveston leaders were keen on reducing any friction on having people visit Galveston Island . So adding access by rail and automobile was a necessity for the new bridge .

Considering the causeway was crossing Galveston Bay at the center it was outfitted with a drawbridge to allow any waterborne vessel traffic to pass by . All total , the first causeway cost around $2 million . The causeway opened with fanfare on May 25 , 1912 .

The city celebrated with a massive parade that morning , music along the beach during the day and fireworks in the evening . Visitors from the mainland flooded into the city utilizing the newly opened 1912 Causeway . The parade alone featured nearly 1,500 automobiles from both Galveston and Houston and was led by Governor OB Colquitt .

One local newspaper called the event the greatest assemblage of automobiles ever gathered in the South .

The newspaper stated that at exactly 10.45 am the silken ribbons bound with flowers which stretched across the causeway just at the island's end was broken by the nose of Governor Colquitt's car and was the instant signal for the breaking loose of flags all over the city and opening every gas and steam whistle on the island and harbor .

The newspaper called what happened next ? Genuine pandemonium . After signals from the bridge that the ribbon had been broken , the big fire whistle sounded a long blast signaling every factory , locomotive , steamship and tugboat whistle in the city and the harbor to join the chorus of noise . Scarcely had the hundreds of whistles begun sending out their message of delight .

Then the big bell of St Mary's Cathedral boomed forth and was quickly followed by the bells of churches throughout the city . So far as can be learned , not a whistle or bell in the city was silent .

Now , all these bells and whistles were only supposed to last for about five minutes , but the people of Galveston apparently concluded that noise is a pretty good thing to have around on an occasion of this kind and kept right on with the fun . It was 12.05pm when the city was restored to a normal state of quiet .

But alas , there was a fatal flaw in the design of the innovative causeway . In order to save money , the roadway approaches at the ends , foolishly , were made of earth . Just three years after opening in 1915 , another powerful hurricane hit the city . While the concrete and steel portion of the causeway survived , the earthen embankments on both ends were washed away .

After the 1915 hurricane damaged the causeway , it took seven years for the repairs to be completed , and during the reopening in 1922 , there were no bells and whistles that day .

As the city grew throughout the 20th century and automobiles became more prevalent in American society , a four-lane causeway was completed in 1938 . This time , it was designed for cars . Only by 1961 , the next rendition of a causeway was opened . This new structure arched 72 feet above the water to avoid the need for a drawbridge .

These causeways were built with the Intracoastal Waterway in mind .

The Intracoastal Waterway is a canal that runs through most of the Gulf Coast and East Coast states , essentially an inland waterway highway in which billions of dollars of cargo is shipped across our country , and the Intracoastal Waterway runs right through the 1912 Causeway and right under the causeway we drive on today .

The 1912 Causeway has stood the test of time and it continues to be used for railroad traffic today . The drawbridge for the 1912 Causeway was replaced in 1987 with a more narrow drawbridge as there was no need to include space for a roadway .

The 1987 drawbridge was replaced in 2012 with a giant blue elevating bridge that we have today , but you may be surprised to learn that Galveston's 1987 drawbridge is still in use to this day , clear across the country in Petaluma , california , as a railroad bridge . The 1912 causeway was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 .

The causeway we drive on today started construction in 2003 and was completed in 2008 . In October of 2016 , the causeway system was renamed in honor of Galveston's own philanthropists , george and Cynthia Mitchell , and their contributions to Galveston Island .