Government Bridge, Rock Island, Ill. & Davenport, Iowa

The original bridge on the Mississippi River, finished in 1856, was the first railroad bridge across the Mississippi. It only lasted until 1866, and was replaced with a heavier wooden structure that reused the original piers. In turn this structure was replaced by an iron, twin deck bridge in 1872 that carried both a single rail line and a separate roadway. The federal government jointly used this bridge for access with the railroad, giving its name of Government Bridge. The current bridge is the fourth crossing of the Mississippi built in 1896 with an added rail line. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. 1910 postmark.