![]() ![]() With a price tag of $3350, it was one of the most expensive stone arch bridges of the time. This includes the last remaining triple arch bridge in the county, Kirk Bridge, constructed south of Dexter in 1913. Some of Sharp’s innovative work is still in use today. ![]() He remained in Winfield until he died at the age of 70 and buried at Highland Cemetery. Sharp was previously married to Elizabeth Mott of Marion from 1880 until her death in 1896. With much of his business in Cowley County, Walter Sharp moved to Winfield in 1912 with his second wife and mother of three of his children, Gertrude Campbell Sharp of Marion. But business remained brisk in Kansas where Sharp began experimenting with concrete, constructing some of the largest arches without steel girders of that time. Sharp was persuaded to building stone bridges in New Mexico following devastating floods in 1903, prompting him to open the Walter Sharp Bridge Company in Sante Fe and a branch office in Colorado. Stone bridges were also known for their strength and ability to withstand flooding reasons why they still stand today. Availability of the materials and workers in the area made construction cost effective. Sharp was a huge proponent of stone arch bridges. Sharp became one of the most prolific builders of arch bridges constructing over one hundred stone arch bridges in the state by 1904, most of them in Butler, Cowley and Greenwood counties. Bridge pioneer Walter Sharp is responsible for many of these remaining arch bridges in Cowley.īorn Augin Owatoma, MN and raised in Burlingame, KS, Sharp began his career in El Dorado. Walter Sharp-Bridge Builder Cowley County is the Stone Bridge Capital of Kansas with 18 bridges on a self-guided tour. Happy Bridge Hunting! Here are printable and Google map links for your convenience:Ģ017-Stone-Arch-Bridge-Brochure Google Map link Check out the Photos of the bridges at Flickr! ![]() Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-5pmĪrkansas City Chamber 106 S Summit St. Tourism Specialists at the Winfield Chamber and Arkansas City Chamber are happy to assist you in your search of the stone arch bridges. We hope you enjoy your visit in Cowley County and all that our communities offer! While the roadway is public access, the land around and under the bridge requires landowner permission to enter the property. When visiting the stone arch bridges in Cowley County keep in mind that most locations are surrounded by private property. There are only 1,700 stone arch bridges remaining in the United States with more than 18 historical stone bridges across Cowley County. Visitors from across the globe come to Cowley County to visit the historic bridges including the stone arch bridges. ![]()
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