Have you ever heard about the London Bridge in Lake Havasu? You might be wondering why a bridge that was originally built in London was brought all the way to Arizona. Well, it’s a fascinating story that involves a bit of history and a lot of creativity.
History of the London Bridge
The London Bridge has been around for centuries and has played an essential role in the history of London. The first version of the bridge was built by Romans over the River Thames in 50 AD.
The bridge went through several incarnations over time, with various rebuilds and renovations. However, by the 19th century, the bridge had become overcrowded and needed to be replaced.
In 1967, after standing for over 130 years, the London Bridge was deemed too old and dangerous to carry modern traffic. It was decided that a new bridge would be constructed to replace it entirely.
The Birth of an Idea
With the decision to replace the old London Bridge made, there arose an opportunity for someone with vision and creativity to make something unique out of it. This is where Robert P. McCulloch comes in.
McCulloch was an American businessman who made his fortune in chainsaws and oil drilling equipment. He had a passion for creating unique tourist attractions and saw potential in purchasing the old London Bridge from England.
After some negotiations with British officials, McCulloch succeeded in buying the bridge for $2.5 million at auction in 1968.
Rebuilding The Bridge
The next step was to dismantle and transport all 10,246 granite blocks which made up the bridge from London to Lake Havasu City in Arizona.
This task took almost three years because each stone block had to be numbered so that it could be reassembled correctly on arrival at Lake Havasu City.
Finally, after everything was shipped and reassembled, the new London Bridge opened to the public on October 10, 1971.
The Attraction Today
Today, the London Bridge in Lake Havasu City is one of Arizona’s most popular tourist attractions. Visitors can walk or drive across the bridge and enjoy beautiful views of Lake Havasu and the surrounding mountains.
The bridge has become a symbol of creativity, determination, and innovation. It’s a testament to human ingenuity that something as large and heavy as a bridge could be transported across an ocean and rebuilt in a new location.
Conclusion
So why did they bring the London Bridge to Lake Havasu? It was because someone had a vision for creating something unique and memorable.
The relocation of the bridge was an incredible feat of engineering that showcased human creativity and ingenuity. Today, it stands as one of Arizona’s most iconic landmarks—a testament to what we can achieve when we set our minds to it.