Royal Gorge Bridge and Incline Railway

Architect George Cole of the Royal Gorge Bridge and Amusement Company designed and supervised construction of the 1,220-foot-long “World's Highest Suspension Bridge” with a view of the Arkansas River 1,053 feet below. The three-quarter-inch steel cables are composed of 2,100 strands of wire anchored in the canyon's granite walls and suspended from four towers rising 75 feet above the roadway. In 1931 Cole built an incline railroad to carry passengers from the rim to the canyon floor and back again. The D&RG track in the bottom of the gorge boasts its own engineering marvel, a hanging bridge suspended over the river from the canyon walls. The suspension bridge, incline railway, aerial tram, and surrounding 5,000-acre park are owned by Cañon City. Some 500,000 visitors annually come to this bridge, which goes nowhere but provides a fine view, not only of a natural wonder but also of some awesome engineering.