This portion of the website serves as a portal to some mini-websites I have created. It also is a set of essays, articles and informational documents I have made. They are sorted into a couple different categories. You will find the mini-websites listed in a group at the top, while the rest of the encyclopedia features are in groups below that. Click on a title to read that article.
Masterpieces - A collection of my best historic bridge photos in full / wallpaper sized format are available here in convenient galleries. The point of this is make it easy for people simply looking for pretty bridge photos to quickly find them.
Historical Connections: Historic Metal Water Towers - If you like metal truss bridges, you might be interested in other structures that were built using the exact same elements as truss bridges, including structural metal (v-laced steel for example) and construction methods (pinned connections for example). This collection of photos not only represents these forgotten towers, it also serves to reveal the stunning similarities these towers have to metal truss bridges.
Photographic Detour - A Photographic Collection of the Natural World - This is a sort of mini-website. Between visiting bridges and my own general explorations, I have developed a decent collection of nature-related photos. This is a sort of mini-website. I have a lot of close-up insect photos, as well as an extensive photographic library of frogs found in Michigan.
Michigan Historic Bridge Inventory 1995: Metal Truss Bridges - An interactive table that lists nearly every truss bridge in Michigan as of 1995. When MDOT's 2005 inventory is completed, I will be able to provide a more recent list. The purpose of this is to allow people to visit truss bridges that may not be included in the Bridge Browser yet. I welcome visitors to report findings and submit photos.
Michigan Historic Bridge Inventory 1995: The Survey Sample - A PDF digitized version of the official 1995 Historic Bridge Inventory, which offers a listing and overview of historic bridges in Michigan. While many of the bridges have been demolished, it is still an invaluable tool in narrowing down where the interesting bridges in Michigan are. In addition the inventory features some interesting stories about Michigan's transportation history.
An Introduction to Historic Truss Bridges - An informative presentation designed to introduce viewers to the world of truss bridges. Utilizing photos, the various terminology, construction, and configuration of truss bridges is discussed.
Concrete Camelback Bridges (Curved Chord Through Girder Bridges)- Learn about, take a look at, and compare the features of Michigan's unique type of historic bridge.
Historic Bridge Park - A comprehensive visitor's guide to this unique park located in Calhoun County, Michigan whose focus is the restored truss bridges within the park.
The Hall of Fame and Shame - A table discussing both places that have gone above the call of duty to preserve historic bridges, as well as those places that have committed horrible atrocities against historic bridges.
Looking at the Ugliness - A hands on look at modern bridges, and how they differ aesthetically from historic bridges.
How To Encourage Preservation - Although I am not the most knowledgeable in this area, I do have a few ideas that I hope will help people interested in developing awareness for a threatened historic bridge, and perhaps save a bridge from the dumpster.
Nicol Road Bridge Guardrail Project - As much as I wanted to save the entire Nicol Road Bridge from the dumpster, I just didn't have the resources to do it. Thanks to the contractors who were tearing the bridge down, I was able to end up with the the lattice guardrails from the bridge. Luke Gordon is working with these railings to restore and reuse them on a private crossing. This is a discussion and gallery of the early stages of this project.
Pennsylvania and Preservation - As I always say, the only thing Pennsylvania and Preservation have in common is the same first letter. This article takes a look a Pennsylvania and shows why this is so true.
Problems With Preservation - A discussion of different ways to preserve a truss bridge, and the various aspects of history that are lost with each method or option.
About this section: A number of my bridge pages discuss more than just the bridge they feature, and the information in their page may be of interest to people whether the bridge itself is or not. Often a particular bridge serves as an example of a problem with our government or society, and I discuss it in that page. This is a list of some of my larger pages that discuss those sorts of bigger picture things. These pages may expose a loophole or a problem with a law or regulation, discuss the way taxpayer dollars are or could be spent, or even take a look at what makes our society work the way it does.
Capac Road Bridge - Why this all-to-common practice of historic bridge demolition represents a failure at all levels of government.
Church Road Bridge - A technical photographic documentation of the process one contractor used to demolish a metal truss bridge.
Fred Moore Highway Bridge - Discusses my opinion of some of our modern design and engineering specifications on our roads. Also takes a look at how modern bridge design could be making our world less of a true civilization.
Grandhaven Swing Bridge - In addition to still photos of the bridge in motion, this page offers video footage of a swing bridge in operation, a rare sight these days.
Indian Trail Road Bridge - Offers a formal research paper that looks not only at the history of the Indian Trail Road Bridge, but also at metal truss bridge development and how it changed over time.
Portsmouth Road Bridge - A discussion of how the government might be exaggerating weight limits to secure funding and waste taxpayer dollars. Also a discussion of the significance of concrete camelback bridges compared to wooden covered bridges and a consideration of the treatment of each.
Shanley Road Bridge - Argues that compromise should be a focus for how bridges are treated. It worked for the U.S. Constitution! Also discusses the Scenic River Act and exposes a clear problem with it.
Wallace Road Bridge - Ever wonder if the government is spending your hard earned money that they get in the form of taxes in a wise and sensible manner? It's your money; do you like what you see on this page?
Alternatives To Destruction - Taking information from the Indiana DOT site, I have a list of alternatives to demolishing a historic bridge.
Local Bridge Funding - Why It Needs To Change - This talks about a way to reform a law that is discouraging bridge preservation and is costing taxpayers money. Local Bridge Funding was formerly Critical Bridge Funding.
Safety Issues With Historic Bridges - My ideas on how to deal with common concerns about the safety of a historic bridge.
In The Name Of Progress - Why our winding country roads (along with their historic bridges) are being destroyed and modernized.
Chimney Rock Bridge - Jason Smith's article on a historic bridge in Iowa.
Turkey River Bowstring Bridge - Jason Smith's article on a historic bridge in Iowa.
