Old Appleton Bridge is a historic Pratt Truss Iron Bridge located at Old Appleton, Cape Girardeau County and Perry County, Missouri. It was built in 1879, and consists of a wrought iron, pin-connected, Pratt through truss main span. It rests on limestone block masonry piers. The total length of the bridge is 161 feet. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009. Efforts to get this piece of history added to the National Register of Historic Places was many years in the making. Nominations for the bridges date all the way back to 1982 but the original nomination was not submitted. In December of 1982, heavy rains sent a flash flood down Apple Creek, pushing the bridge into the water. It would take several years to finally restore the bridge. Another flash flood in 1986 … [Read more...] about “Bridges are a monument to progress.” -Joseph Straus