Difficult Crossing

 Difficult Crossing      1875

 

Crossing the Tennessee River was a difficult task for

early citizens of Knoxville.  The Gay Street bridge

you see today opened in 1898.  It replaced a structure

so fragile travelers were fined five dollars if they

crossed it faster than a walk.  The previous structure

was blown down by wind.  The pontoon bridge from

the Civil War was washed away in 1867.  Before and

after these bridges, there were a series of ferries located at

the mouths of First Creek and Second Creek.

• knoxville
• gay street bridge
• civil war
• ferry