Baring Cross Bridge Company

Product Details

Historical Context

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The Baring Cross Bridge is located in downtown Little Rock (Pulaski County) over the Arkansas River at river mile 166.2. It is the western-most bridge of the six bridges spanning the Arkansas River in downtown Little Rock. The first Baring Cross Bridge, the first bridge built across the Arkansas River, opened in 1873.

In the 1850s and 1860s, the Cairo and Fulton Railroad Company (C&F) developed two divisions north and south of the Arkansas River. Before the bridge was constructed, the railroad company used ferries to transport equipment, people, animals and commercial freight across the river. Ferries, however, were slow and had a limited amount of cargo space, which caused frequent backups in service. Also, cargo was lost in ferry accidents. The railroad company needed a way to cross the river that was more efficient and stable than ferrying.

In 1872, the C&F announced that it would build a bridge across the Arkansas River to connect its northern and southern divisions. The new bridge took its name from two sources: the famous Baring and Company bankers of England, who were the principal financiers of the construction project, from which came “Baring,” and C&F president Thomas Allen, who added “Cross,” which came from President Allen’s family coat of arms. The coat of arms consisted of a cross and the words Fortiter Girret, meaning, “bravely he bears the cross.”

Before the year ended, the C&F began to run short on funds. The Baring Cross Bridge Company was formed and obtained the charter from the C&F to build and operate the new bridge. The newly formed company contracted with the American Bridge Company to construct the bridge. The bridge opened on December 21, 1873, to a large crowd of people. It consisted of four Howe Truss spans and one navigation swing span for a total length of 978 feet.

In 1877, the Baring Cross Bridge Company constructed a highway deck on top of the bridge and charged tolls for its use by the public. In early 1886, the company rebuilt most of the bridge, with the exception of the piers, and lowered the highway deck to the same level as the rail.

In April 1927, rains soaked the Arkansas River Valley and caused the Arkansas River to flood. As the floodwaters reached Little Rock, the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company placed coal cars on the old bridge for ballast, but the bridge washed away on April 21. During the Flood of 1927, Missouri Pacific took over the ownership rights of the bridge and pledged to rebuild it. The new bridge opened on February 2, 1929, to a huge community celebration.

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