The Cameron Bridge

The vehicle in the left photo was identified as a 1913 Hudson
by two members of The Antique Automobile Club of America.
The inverted triangle radiator badge is the telltale mark
of an early Hudson.  Hudson began business in 1909 so
the Hudson make would have been a relative newcomer.
Right photo ©  2017 by Peter Corbett
http://www.ontheroadarizona.com/

 The Cameron suspension bridge over The Little Colorado was built long before US 89 was even a gleam in anyone's eye.  At the time of its 1911 construction, the Cameron bridge was the longest suspension bridge west of The Mississippi River.

Photo © 2017 by Peter Corbett
http://www.ontheroadarizona.com/

 Time, a dry climate and private property protection have been kind to the bridge.  Amazingly, the bridge's original 1911 name plate remains intact on the south side of the structure.

Photo © 2017 by Peter Corbett
http://www.ontheroadarizona.com/

The bridge served early US 89 well from the mid 1920's until it was temporarily rendered structurally unsound in 1937. Ironically, it wasn't heavy traffic that damaged the bridge.  It was a flock of heavy sheep. (See story here.) The bridge was repaired and continued in service until 1958 when a newer bridge was constructed alongside the 1911 bridge.  The bridge was sold to an oil company in 1958 by the State of Arizona.

The Cameron suspension bridge is one of only four 

surviving bridges from Arizona's Territorial period.

 According to the historical inventory for this bridge, "Because of their exotic nature and expensive erection costs, suspension bridges were infrequently built in Arizona and the country. The Cameron Bridge is notable as the older of the two vehicular suspension bridges remaining in Arizona, a significant hybrid of suspension and truss engineering. As one of the few bridges remaining from Arizona's territorial period, the Cameron Bridge over the Little Colorado is one of the state's most historically and technologically significant early spans."

For a full engineering description and discussion of the historical context of the bridge see:
https://goo.gl/HgTGez

Source of three screen clips above: https://goo.gl/bKTjn9

Photo © 2017 by Peter Corbett
http://www.ontheroadarizona.com/

Sale of the bridge to private enterprise now appears in hindsight to have helped preserve the bridge. It has been in the oil company's best interest to keep the bridge in good shape.

The view above shows how the Cameron bridge is located adjacent to the long-standing Cameron Trading Post complex alongside The Little Colorado River.

For more information about the Cameron Bridge, visit the the two links below:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cameron_Suspension_Bridge

https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/4a9109b0-65e6-4a86-a81a-9e9972c0dbbb/?branding=NRHP

Here's a drone video of the bridge:

https://youtu.be/tV0fPKHaPBk