11 Most Endangered | Common Questions | Nomination Form | 1999 Engagement Calendar

1997 11 Most Endangered Nomination Form

12-16-96

1-8: Name, address, etc.

9. PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION OF SITE
The Bridge of Lions has become an integral component of St. Augusitne's historic landscape and skyline. For northbound motorists and pedestrians the Bridge is a 1538-feet prelude to Historic St. Augustine. The Bridge indeed makes the lasting impression on visitors that were desired by its 1920s proponents. The Bridge embodies the incipient years of the automobile and land development both in Florida and the nation. Engineers have recognized the Bridge of Lions of one or the two most significant bridges built in Florida in the 1920s. Some of the original ornamentation - railing and lighting fixtures - has been replaced with modern substitutes, which are not of compatible design and diminish the beauty of the Bridge. The restoration option of the Florida Department of Transportation would return the Bridge to its former glory.

The towers which flank the draw echo the Spanish heritage of the turrents of the colonial fortress, Casillo de San Marcos, and the Gay 90s Hotel Ponce de Leon and the First Union Bank Building, the last a contemporary project of the Bridge. Twenty-three pairs of roadbed-supporting arches repeat the Mediterranean-inspired style. Although a modern structure in the context of St. Augustine's antiquity, the Bridge of Lions perpetuates the human-size scale of the old town.

Officially named the Mantanzas River Bridge, it soon took its name from the pair of marble lion statues, which guard the western approach.

The Bridge of Lions is one of the four conduits form the mainland to Anastasia Island. The Michker-O'Connell Bridge, opened in 1975 about five miles south of the Bridge of Lions, will be widened from two to four lanes in the near future, thus doubling its traffic capacity. The latter is a more direct route to Anastasia Island from Interstate 95 and US1 than the Bridge of Lions and the thus preferable route.

Additionally, a recent survey for submerged cultural resources revealed evidence of an 18th century shipwreck just north of the western terminus of the present bridge. This important underwater site must also be thoroughly investigated prior to any disturbance brought about by either restoration or replacement activity.

10. WHAT IS THE SITE'S HISTORY?
Work began on the Bridge of Lions in July 1925 and it opened to traffic February 1927, replacing a wooden predecessor. The novel concrete-and-steel bridge usurped a planned nondescript bridge of wood. City resident opted to finance a bridge of high quality to compliment the city's attractiveness by harmonizing? Island. The subdivision's main streets were laid out to radiate from the eastern terminus of the bridge. Promotional material emphasized the ease of access to town by foot or by auto. The mundane trolleycar service across the bridge to the beaches went without mention, as the automobile became ascendant. But the trolley tracks remain embedded in the bridge's pavement.

11. HOW WELL KNOWN IS THE SITE? WHO GOES THER (tourists, school children?) IS IT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC?
Thousands of people utilize the Bridge of Lions daily, primarily by automobile, but also by foot and bicycle. From the east the Bridge of Lions offers the first glimpse of St. Augustine's graceful skyline. Boaters pass under the bridge or through its raised draw.

The site is very well known and its possible demolition has raised interest outside of the environs of St. Augustine. The Bridge of Lions has inspired magazine photographs for decades. Advertisements and pictorial presentations of St. Augustine usually include the Bridge. It is one of the best known sights to boaters on the Atlantic Intercoastal Waterway. The marble lions at the west approach are well known as a component of the monumental statuary of mainland St. Augustine.

For decades artist have recreated the Bridge with prints and photographs. Renowned WPA-era photographer, Frances Benjamin Johnston, captured the Bridge and its environment as part of her ? of southern architecture.

12. WHY IS SITE IMPORTANT? WHAT PRESERVATION ISSUSE (i.e. sprawl, inner city decline) DOES IT EXEMPLIFY? (Please consider the following questions: How is the site unique? Why should anyone care that it is endangered?)
This site is important in its own right because of its intrinsic attractiveness. In the larger context the site is a piece of the development of Florida's ocean highway and served a role in the state's and region's early tourism. The Bridge's historic significance has been recognized by inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

The site exemplifies the problem that preservation and those who enjoy preserved sites create: additional traffic and heavy use. The Bridge of Lions symbolizes the tension between the demands of auto traffic upon precious sites, which were designed and laid out before the advent of the automobile. The problem of the Bridge of Lions is an extension of the traffic movement problems in old St. Augustine, where the human-size scale of street impede motor traffic. Yet the speed movement of traffic cannot be accomplished without destroying the very essence of this old town. As a main artery into the old town, the Bridge of Lions is an integral part of movement through the town. In this context a larger bridge would not resolve the mainland congestion.

13. WHAT IS THE THREAT TO THIS SITE?
The threat to the site arises from the perception by the public of potential danger to the public itself. In this situation judgements by the public must rely upon technical specialists - engineers and navigation experts - for assessments of the safety of the Bridge. Since the early 1980s the assessments of Bridge of Lions have presented a series of problems that question the Bridge's viability as a traffic conduit. Recent barge collisions with the Bridge's fenders have undermined the public's sense of security in using the Bridge although the accidents were attributed to pilot error rather than outmoded bridge dimensions. The collisions were followed by the inconvenience of extended closings to motor traffic to make repairs and have increased dissatisfaction with the option of restoration of the extant Bridge.

Overlapping governmental authority between ground transportation agencies and maritime transportation agencies have complicated the situation.

14. HOW SIGNIFICANT IS THE TREAT? (Is the building about to fall? Is the ship about to sink?)
The threat to the Bridge of Lions is imminent. Decisions will be made shortly, which will translate into either a restored continuation of the Bridge of Lions or replacement of it.

Construction activities will threaten the very possibly obliterate the remnants of the shipwreck near the western shore.

15. HOW CAN THE THREAT BE ELIMINATED? (More money, change of ownership, education, protection mechanism?)
The present threat can be eliminated by the Coast Guard's allowing the dimensions of the existing drawspan to remain in effect.

16. WHO ARE THE MAJOR PLAYERS?
The major players are local, state and federal governmental entities: the City of St. Augustine, the Florida Department of Transportation, the State Historic Preservation Officer, the Historic St. Augustine Preservation (an agency of the State of Florida), the National Park Service. The County Commissioners of St. Johns County (where the Bridge is located) have not participated in discussions.

Friends of St. Augustine Architecture is an informal coalition of citizens, who have watchdogged the issue and kept the public aware of the many facets since 1982. Friends advocates restoration, if feasible. There is no identifiable group which serves as the voice of opponents of maintaining/restoring the extant Bridge although there have been a few meeting held for such purpose.

17. IS THERE OPPOSITION?

The City of St. Augustine and the City of St. Augustine Beach have passed resolutions in favor of a replacement bridge. The St. Augustine Port, Waterway and Beach Authority passed a resolution recommending that all authorities ensure that the fenders protecting the main supports of the Bridge of Lions meet all current standards to protect the Bridge from damage, but after a discussion on restoration vs. replacement took no position.

18. HOW WOULD LISTING ON THE 11 MOST HELP?
Listing on the 11 Most would help by bringing the issue to national focus as this is not merely a local issue. The prestige and expertise of the National Trust for Historic Preservation would command enlarged attention from state and federal officials.

Until now the partisans of restoration have been in the role of David, trying to deal with the Goliath of the resources of state and federal agencies. David needs help.

19. OTHER THAN LISTING THE SITE AS ENDANGERED, WHAT ELSE CAN TRUST DO TO ALLEVIATE THE THREAT?
The Trust can help to alleviate the threat by using its national position and available expertise to cut through the layers of red tape and to secure a clarification of responsibilities incumbent upon the various agencies. The Trust can also watchdog the process to ensure that the various participant have fully complied with their legal and mandated responsibility to historic preservation issues.

20. HOW HAS THE TRUST BEEN INVOLVED TO DATE? WHAT ROLE, IF ANY, IS THERE FOR THE TRUST IF THE SITE IS PUT ON THE LIST?
To date the Trust has been involved in the Bridge of Lions issue through the availability of its publications and preservation data. With listing on the 11 Most, the Trust would become an active participant in the multilayered and multifaceted governmental process and bring to that process the Trust's organization support, expertise and influence, which is beyond the means of ad hoc, local stewardship groups.