National and State Register

Maroon Creek Bridge

Pitkin County

In 1887, the Colorado Midland Railroad and the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad raced to be the first to stretch their rail lines to the mining town of Aspen.

Maroon Creek Bridge, 1980.

Maroon Creek Bridge, 1980.

The D&RG reached Aspen by October, and the Colorado Midland reached the Maroon Creek Crossing in December.  The bridge, completed in 1888, features a multi-span trestle with a built-up steel deck girder.  It is one of the last trestles of its design constructed for the state’s narrow gauge mountain railroads during the late 19th century.  Listed under Highway Bridges in Colorado Multiple Property Submission and under Railroads in Colorado, 1858-1948 Multiple Property Submission.