The 29th annual Lincoln Highway Bridge Festival will take place in downtown Tama, Iowa, May 16-18, 2008. Events include the Bill Riley Talent Show and Citizen of the Year award on Friday; on Saturday, the Grand Parade at 10 am followed by Chamber Community BBQ at the Fire Station and free entertainment from 11-3 on the Civic Center Lawn. The 3 day event also features a carnival, petting zoo, Olde Time Engine display, 5K run/walk, and street dance. Contact the Tama Toledo Chamber of Commerce for more info at (641) 484-6661. UPDATE: The regional newspaper now has an article and schedule.
Tama’s Lincoln Highway Bridge is perhaps the most famous bridge along the transcontinental Lincoln Highway. The small concrete span was built in 1915 with the highway’s name in its side rails as a way to show the city’s pride in being located on the coast-to-coast road. It can be found along E 5th Street, though the Lincoln was rerouted to bypass the town in 1926 (current day US 30). It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 and restored in 1987. It is also one of the most photographed bridges, though signs ask motorists to not stop to admire it, or to do so from a small adjacent parking lot.
Books by Brian Butko 