Louisville Art Deco - Municipal Bridge Building & Pylons
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Last Updated:    July 30, 2006      Added some historical information.

Date Constructed: 1929
Address: Building is at the Indiana end of the bridge. Bridge is at Main and 2nd Streets in Louisville.
Current Building Name: Louisville Municipal Bridge and Building
Earlier Building Names: None
Architect: Paul Phillippe Cret (building)
Builder: Unknown at this time
Current Status: In use
Designation (if applicable): Unknown at this time.

The Municipal Bridge is also known as the 2nd Street Bridge. The Municipal building itself is located on the Indiana side of the bridge, next to the Indiana Visitor's Bureau. Completed in 1929, the building was used to house the guards and toll money from the bridge. On each end of the bridge are two sets of columns - each with carvings and a light atop it. These columns are identical to each other on each of their respective sides of the bridge. The only differences between the Indiana and Kentucky columns are the state names engraved on the column, as well as each side has their own version of the carved plaque (see the photos for the two versions).

My thanks to the hospitality of Mr. James P. Keith - Executive Director of the Indiana Convention & Tourism Bureau, and his courteous assistant, Linda Hughes.

Photos by Jim L. Patterson - copyright 2005.


Click on the thumbnail photo to view a larger image.


Front (east) side.

Front entryway.

The front doors.

Door detail.

Door sculpure - detail.

Engraving above front doors.

Front door interior.

Rear (west) side of building.

Rear windows with railing.

Back window engravings (1928 - 1929).

Rear railing detail - left.

Rear railing detail - right.

Roofline - rear of building.

Monument (north side) - notice the deco-style set-back design.

Monument detail showing set-back design.

South side of building.

South side.

North side of building.

North side lower entrance.

Railing detail.

Entryway light - deco reproduction.

Entryway south grill.

Entryway money drop for safe.

Entryway north grill.

Entryway plaque commemorating the building restoration.

Hallway terrazzo floor.

Hallway trim and marble wainscot.

Conference room light - deco reproduction.

Large safe door, still with original paint.

Small safe inside of large safe.

Framed certificate with history.

Old photo showing toll booths.

Old photo showing opening day of the bridge in 1929.

Old photo showing mid- to late-40's cars.

Indiana side bridge entrance columns with Louisville in the background.

Indiana side bridge entrance columns with the building shown as well.

Column with building.

Steps next to column.

Indiana side.

Indiana side east column sculptures - identical to the west column.

Indiana side east column.

Indiana side east column sculpture detail.

Indiana side east column - fluer de lis (symbol of Louisville).

Kentucky side - both columns.

Kentucky side east column.

Kentucky side east column - eagle and light detail.

Kentucky side east column - carvings.

Kentucky side east column - plaque detail.

Kentucky side west column.

Kentucky side west column - plaque detail.

Kentucky side east column - eagle detail.
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