The Passing of “Captain Eads,” a Renowned Inventor and Civil Engineer

Transportation History

March 8, 1887

James Buchanan Eads, an internationally renowned inventor and civil engineer, died at the age of 66 while vacationing in the Bahamas. Eads had been born in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, in 1820. He was named after his mother’s cousin James Buchanan, who was a U.S. congressman at the time and would go on to become the 15th president.

Eads attended school until he was 13, and then entered the world of work to help support his family. One of his first jobs was at a dry-goods store. His employer there was somebody named Barrett Williams, who allowed the teenager to spend time reading books in his personal library above the store. Eads immersed himself in books dealing with such subjects as physical science and civil engineering.

Eads subsequently made his fortune thanks to a diving bell that he created for use in retrieving goods that had ended up at…

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Hoffstadt Creek Bridge – Second Highest Bridge in Washington State — Journeys with Johnbo

Toutle, Washington. The best access to the blast area defined by the eruption of Mount Saint Helens is via State Route 504, also known as the Spirit Lake Highway. Built to replace the original highway destroyed by the eruption, this 52-mile (84 km) highway contains 14 bridges that span the valleys west of the mountain. […]

Hoffstadt Creek Bridge – Second Highest Bridge in Washington State — Journeys with Johnbo