Seven Mile Bridge

The original Overseas Railroad was constructed by Henry Flagler Henry Morrison Flagler Museum between 1908-1912, at a cost of $80 million. He funded it out of his own pocket. Seven Mile Bridge was the longest bridge in the world, at the time, and considered the "8th Wonder of The World". Pigeon Key, the small island shown here, was a base camp for the workers who built the bridge. In 1935, a Cat 5 hurricane wiped out part of the railroad, near Upper Matecumbe Key, once again isolating a now populated Lower Keys. The State of Florida purchased the RR right of way and began construction of an automobile bridge on the original railroad bed/bridge from Homestead to Key West. In 1938, the Overseas Highway opened to vehicle traffic. In 1985, the original Seven Mile Bridge, on the right, was bypassed by a new bridge, on the left. The section of old bridge beyond Pigeon Key was removed to prevent vehicle traffic beyond it, but it was still possible to travel from Marathon to Pigeon Key. Now, the 2.4 mile stretch is in danger of demolition. Only foot traffic and bicycles are allowed due to deteriorating concrete. The bridge and Pigeon Key are both on the National Register of Historic Places; however, if the bridge is demolished, then Pigeon Key will fade into history with it, as there will be only water access. My company provided conceptual modeling in an effort to save the bridge and I have, literally, climbed all over this bridge with a tape measure and note pad. I also design commercial buildings. I can say without a doubt that the 100+ year old bridge steel is much stronger than bridges today and is WELL worth the restoration efforts. Please visit www.friendsofoldseven.org to read more about this historic structure and be a part of saving one of the greatest feats of American ingenuity still in existence. Thanks.

If you are interested in architecture and engineering and if bridges interest you for real, then you should definitely visit Seven Mile Bridge. Very well constructed and engineered.

The views you get are magnificent, the scenery artistic and the colors of the sea, just fabulous! One side you get to see the Gulf of Mexico and on the other the Atlantic.

Very interesting for photographers.

Beautiful and awesome views!!! Just don't get caught speeding, fine is ridiculous...

Made the trip via motorhome a few years back it is amazing! And Key west itself is beautiful.

It's beautiful there. Best scenic drive so far!

Everytime we drove on this bridge it brought me back to Jamie Lee Curtis' performance in the movie True Lies! What a spectacular view and amazing drive!

A totally rad drive, if you're lucky, and if you're a passenger, you might see dolphin.

Some of the conceptual models proposed for the preservation can be seen at: http://stdetailinganddesign.com/project-gallery.html as well as https://www.facebook.com/PhoenixDesignStudios

awesome place !!

been there many times but would love to go back