Jay Cooke State Park swinging bridge — then and now

Compare photos before, after flood destroyed it.

June 22, 2012 at 7:26PM
(The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Here are a couple of photos that show the devastation of the flooding up north, specifically the swinging bridge at Jay Cooke State Park, which has been evacuated.

The photo immediately below I took on a fall day a couple of years ago, while standing downstream of the bridge and while wading about knee-deep in the St. Louis River.

The second photo below is an aerial shot taken Thursday by Star Tribune photographer Brian Peterson.

Kindergarten students from Amy Labernik's Winterquist Elementary School class of Esko, Minn., walked across the swing bridge at Jay Cooke State Park not far from Duluth on Tuesday. Autumn tree colors are peaking in the region.
(STAR TRIBUNE/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Water continues to rage in the St.Louis River as it flows through Jay Cooke State Park, washing out major sections of Hwy. 210 and here ripping out the swinging bridge in the park. ] BRIAN PETERSON • brianp@startribune.com Carlton, MN  - 06/21/2012
(DML - Star Tribune Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
about the writer

about the writer

Dennis Anderson

Columnist

Outdoors columnist Dennis Anderson joined the Star Tribune in 1993 after serving in the same position at the St. Paul Pioneer Press for 13 years. His column topics vary widely, and include canoeing, fishing, hunting, adventure travel and conservation of the environment.

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