On September 8, 1938, the bridge spanning the Neches River between Port Arthur and Orange County was officially dedicated. At the time, it was known as the Port Arthur-Orange Bridge and replaced the Dryden Ferry as part of State Highway 87.
Construction began in May 1936 after years of debate and planning. One of the biggest concerns came from Beaumont, whose port facilities were located upstream. The bridge needed to be high enough to allow large ships to continue traveling the Neches River. The final design provided a vertical clearance of 176 feet, high enough to accommodate the USS Patoka, a U.S. Navy dirigible tender that was among the tallest ships afloat at the time. Ironically, the Patoka never passed beneath the bridge.
When completed, the bridge was the most elevated highway bridge over tidal waters in the world and the largest bridge built by the Texas Highway Department. Stretching more than 7,700 feet including its approaches, the project cost approximately $2.75 million. An estimated 20,000 people attended the dedication festivities on September 8, which included a boat regatta on the river.
The familiar name “Rainbow Bridge” came nearly two decades later. In 1957, the North Port Arthur Lions Club sponsored a contest to rename the Port Arthur-Orange Bridge, and “Rainbow Bridge” was selected.
For 88 years, the bridge has stood as one of Southeast Texas’ most recognizable landmarks and an important link between Jefferson and Orange counties. (Museum of the Gulf Coast)
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