In the middle of the Arizona desert, there stands a bridge unlike any other. It’s not the towering skyscraper that comes to mind when we think of bridges, nor is it adorned with intricate designs or sculptures.
Instead, this bridge is a plain and simple structure that spans over a man-made lake. What’s remarkable about this bridge isn’t what it looks like or where it leads to but rather its origin story – this is the London Bridge, transported over 5,000 miles from its original location in England to the United States.
Why did they move the London Bridge?
The story begins in 1962 when the City of London realized that their much-beloved bridge was slowly deteriorating due to heavy traffic and urbanization. The decision was made to replace it with a new modernized version of the bridge. However, instead of simply demolishing the old structure, they decided to sell it.
The idea of purchasing the London Bridge was first proposed by Robert P. McCulloch, an American entrepreneur who saw an opportunity in acquiring such a famous landmark. He wanted to use it as a tourist attraction in his newly built city on Lake Havasu in Arizona.
The purchase price for the bridge was $2.46 million dollars and McCulloch paid an additional $7 million dollars for its transportation and reconstruction in Arizona.
How did they move the London Bridge?
Transporting such a massive structure across continents was no small feat. To make matters worse, the bridge had to be dismantled into 10,000 pieces so that it could be reassembled in its new location.
A team of engineers worked tirelessly for three years to label each piece and carefully transport them via ship across the Atlantic Ocean and then by truck across America until they finally reached Lake Havasu City.
Once there, workers spent another three years reconstructing and restoring every single piece before reassembling them like a giant puzzle. Finally, in 1971, the London Bridge was reopened in Arizona and became a popular tourist attraction.
- Fun Fact: The rumors that McCulloch thought he was buying the more iconic Tower Bridge is just a myth.
- Fun Fact: The bridge’s original stones were numbered so that they could be reconstructed accurately.
The legacy of the London Bridge in Arizona
Over the years, the London Bridge has become an iconic landmark of Lake Havasu City, drawing more than one million visitors each year. It has also been featured in numerous movies and TV shows including “Piranha 3D” and “National Lampoon’s Vacation.”
Moreover, it has become an important symbol of friendship between England and America. To commemorate this bond, Lake Havasu City celebrates an annual festival called “London Bridge Days,” during which they host various events and activities.
In conclusion, while it may seem strange to have a piece of London’s history in the middle of Arizona, the story behind it is fascinating. It speaks to our desire to preserve history and to find creative solutions for things that might otherwise be lost forever.
And who knows? Perhaps someday another famous landmark will find a new home halfway across the world.