Photo: USBR. Glen Canyon Bridge Dedication, 1959. Source: Terry Edwards.
The dedication ceremony of Glen Canyon Bridge took place on Friday, February 20, 1959. My understanding of that event (we moved there shortly after the bridge was dedicated) is that the ribbon-cutting was actually a chain-cutting using a cutting torch and once the chains were cut, the crowds quickly moved onto the bridge to take a look below at the beginnings of Glen Canyon Dam. These pictures capture some of that day. If you were there, I’d love to hear your story in the comments.
The photo above is taken from above the beehive, looking back toward Page. If you click on the picture you’ll be able to zoom in and see the detail. Look at the number of cars parked on the Page side of the bridge and the line of cars still arriving on US89 in the distance. You can also see the original visitor’s lookout near the top of the canyon wall on the Page side of the canyon.
Photo: USBR. Glen Canyon Bridge Dedication, 1959. Source: Terry Edwards.
The photo above is a look from the Page side of the bridge. Check out the ambulance, the ’57 Chevy, and the old busses. The ambulance is visible in the first picture above by zooming into it.
Photo: USBR. Glen Canyon Bridge Dedication, 1959.
Click on the above photo and look at the detail. The parking lot on the right was for visitors and there was a walking path down to the lookout point that I mentioned in the first picture, also clearly visible in this photo. The buses in the previous photo are visible in this one, to the right of the bridge. The first visitor center would eventually be placed on US89 between where those busses are parked and the end of the bridge. Looking in the canyon, the ledge has been cut in the canyon wall for the concrete batch plant but it’s not there yet. You can also see the keyways are cut for where the dam would be anchored to the canyon walls.
The lower footbridge is visible near the bottom of the photo and the upper footbridge can be seen in the background. No dam yet, but it’s on its way. You can see water flowing through the right diversion tunnel. Right and left seem relative, but in previous photos, right and left are usually referenced from the upstream side of the dam, looking downstream.
Photo: USBR. Glen Canyon Bridge Dedication, 1959.
The above photo is like the “Where’s Waldo” of bridge dedications. Are you in this picture, or do you recognize someone who is? If so, please leave a comment and let me know.
Photo: USBR. Glen Canyon Bridge Dedication, 1959. Source: Donna Bloxton Petersen
The photo above was sent to me by Donna Bloxton Petersen with this caption, “Glen Canyon Bridge Dedication or First Bucket of Concrete for GC Dam when Paul Fannin was Governor – by Donna Burgess Kielland” I’m going with the bridge dedication since there is only one crane tower built and it may not be completely built (two more were built on that side of the canyon). Those three cranes were used in conjunction with the three on the opposite side of the canyon to lower the concrete buckets (and other things) into the lower canyon.
Source: Page Signal, February 4, 1959.
Photo: USBR. Glen Canyon Bridge Dedication, 1959.
Until next time… Enjoy and share!
Mike
A History of Glen Canyon Dam and Page Arizona 
I was in fifth grade and school had let out for the day The Page Signal had a picture of three boys looking thru the guard railing at the bottom of the canyon. I was one of the three, we were dropping pop bottles and watching as they fall. My dad was a high scaler/driller/power man.
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Do you have a copy of that picture?
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I have a copy of the Signal with that picture, I just need to find it. Sorry for the delay getting back to you.
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