There’s a bridge in Arizona’s Tonto National Forest that sounds like a punchline, but it’s actually a relic of a surprisingly complex logistical challenge: the Verde River Sheep Bridge. Picture this: thousands of sheep, needing to get from their winter digs to their summer pastures, and a very uncooperative Verde River in between. Enter a suspension bridge, built not for Instagram selfies, but for woolly commuters.
Back in the 1940s, the Flagstaff and Howard Sheep Companies faced a dilemma. River crossings meant lost sheep, which meant lost profits. So, they did what any self-respecting enterprise would do: they built a bridge. Specifically, a pedestrian suspension bridge, because apparently, sheep aren't great at driving.
Construction kicked off in early 1943, right in the thick of World War II. While the world was busy with, you know, the war, a small crew in Arizona was hauling recycled materials from an old mine and a railroad, building a bridge mostly by hand. The concrete towers were finished by January 1944. Total cost? A tidy $7,277. Which, if you think about it, is a pretty good deal for keeping a flock of sheep from becoming river snacks.
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Start Your News DetoxSheep continued their dignified processions across the bridge until 1978. That same year, it earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places, not just for its charming name, but as the last suspension-style sheep bridge in Arizona. Let that satisfying number sink in.
Alas, even the sturdiest sheep bridge has its limits. Floods and good old-fashioned wear and tear led to its closure in 1987. The original was mostly dismantled in 1988, but the U.S. Forest Service, clearly understanding the power of a good story (and a useful crossing), built a replica in 1989. Now, it primarily serves hikers and outdoor enthusiasts. But if you listen closely, you might still hear the faint bleating of a thousand sheep, grateful for their historical shortcut. Oh, and the original west concrete tower from 1944? It's still standing, a silent monument to ovine transit.
