The following is a series of photos taken in March of this year while we were driving the nearby counties searching for interesting sites to photograph. The Buchanan Swinging Bridge has the original pilings built in 1851. It is 366 feet long and 57.5 feet tall and the only bridge of its type across the James River. It was originally a covered bridge called the Buchanan Turnpike Company Toll Bridge. On June 13, 1864, Confederate General McCausand burned it to prevent the Union troops from crossing the James River on their march south to Lynchburg. They had already burned Virginia Military Institute and occupied Lexington, Va, the town outside of which we live. Following a series of replacement bridges, the present one was constructed in 1939 on the original pilings.
This gives you a good picture of the pilings.
The car bridge is on the left.
Who in his or her right mind would even think about taking a motorized vehicle on this bridge. The car bridge entry is on the right.
Here is Buddy starting across. It is very sturdy and does not bounce and sway. It is the only swinging bridge I have ever walked across that did not frighten me. It is a wonderful bit of history still in use on a daily basis.
"I never wanted to set the world on fire.
So I never had to burn any bridges behind me.”
~Dinah Shore
