Why the Draw Bridge City?
A municipal ordinance establishing the Port of Houston and fixing wharfage rates and rules was adopted on June 8, 1841. The port encompassed all the wharves, landings, slips and roads along Buffalo Bayou and White Oak Bayou within the corporate boundaries of the city. Throughout the 19th century, steam ships, schooners and barges made their way to the foot of Main Street to offload goods at the Port of Houston.
As early as the mid-1850's, the Houston Direct Navigation Company was a driving force in the economic growth of the City. Commercial marine traffic took precedence over road traffic and even rail transport. As a result, bridges crossing Buffalo Bayou could not be built in a way that would restrict the passage of ships enroute to Houston.
The first draw bridge in Houston was the Galveston, Houston and Henderson Railroad bridge which was built in 1865 to connect the GH&H tracks coming from Galveston with the Houston and Texas Central Railroad line on the north side of Buffalo Bayou. The tracks unceremoniously divided the subdivision of Frostown at that time, and a modern bridge sits unused today as the railroad right of way will become part of Houston's Bikeways System.
After a threatened revolt of secession by citizens of the Fifth Ward in the late 1800's, an iron draw bridge was built at San Jacinto Street in 1883 to connect the north side of Buffalo Bayou with the central business district.
As Houston grew as a rail center, draw bridges were constructed to connect the main rail lines on either side of the ship channel. There was the Houston Belt and Terminal Railway bridge in Schrimpf's Field in Frostown, the International and Great Northern bridge near Lottman Street, the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railraod bridge near North Velasco Street, the Houston Belt and Terminal Railway bridge above Wayside Drive and the Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railroad bridge at Hedrick Street. Eventually, the popularity of motor vehicle traffic caused draw bridges to be built at McKee street, at the modern Jensen Drive and at Lockwood Street. Ultimately, a total of ten draw bridges were constructed over Buffalo Bayou between Main Street and the Turning Basin.
Marine traffic to Allen's Landing and other points upstream of the Turning Basin declined after the opening of the deep water port in November, 1914. All of the roadway bridges have been replaced by modern concrete structures. Some of the railroad bridges have been replaced with modern bridges. Others have been removed as the need for rail connections has diminished.
Some of the draw bridges were of the traditional vertical rise type, while others were swing bridges that rotated horizonatlly on a pivot. The HB&T Railroad bridge in Frostown has been renovated as part of the reconstruction of the US59 highway overpass in 2003. This Strauss Bascule draw bridge, designed by the engineer who also built the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, has been converted for use in the Houston Bikeways System. Although access is somewhat limited while the hike and bike paths along the bayou are under construction, it is possible to get to the bridge from the north side of the bayou near Nance Street. If you have not had a chance to see a showcase example of one of Houston's historic draw bridges, this is your opportunity.