Garcés Footbridge
The Garcés footbridge crosses Congress Street, between Church and Granada Avenues. This footbridge is a memorial to Francisco Garcés an explorer and the first American missionary to the Pima Village at the foot of Sentinel Peak. In 1770, Garcés and the Pimas constructed the first substantial building in Tucson, a mission residence with two round towers for defense. On August 20, 1775 he led Lt. Col. Hugo O’Connor to the site designated for the founding of the Royal Spanish Presidio of Tucson. Garcés and the Pimas help construct the Presidio. Garcés died in the Yuma uprising of 1781.
Allande Footbridge
The Allande footbridge goes across Pennington Street to El Presidio Park. This bridge is a memorial to Pedro Allande, the first resident commander of the Royal Presidio of Tucson and Captain of the Mexican Dragoons. On May 1, 1782 he was wounded during an attack of 600 warrior apaches. Allande still managed to drag himself around the sentry post and direct the defense of Tucson. He saved the infant settlement from total destruction.
You may see this footbridge spelled as Allende—Allande is the correct spelling.
Rattlesnake Bridge
The Rattlesnake Bridge crosses over Broadway Boulevard on the Aviation Bike Path, with the head and fangs on the downtown side, its tail on the south side, and a path leading through its 280-foot-long belly. It was designed by artist Simon Donovan and won an award from the Federal Highway Administration. The bridge was completed in 2002.
Jim Glock Bypass
The Jim Glock bypass, named after the former transportation director, was installed in 2011. It crosses over 4th Avenue and allows pedestrians and cyclists to pass behind a warehouse and avoid the intersection of 4th Avenue, Toole Avenue, and Broadway Boulevard.
Sources:
Cuming, Harry James. Yesterday’s Tucson Today, Book 1. Rev. & enl. ed. Tucson: Trillium. 1996. Page 10.
Downtown Tucson Historical Walking Tour, opens a new window | Moon Handbooks: Arizona, opens a new window
Sources: Rattlesnake Bridge | Visit Tucson
Rattlesnake Bridge | Roadside America
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