The Northern Pacific Railway was the driving force behind Brainerd’s first bridge across the Mississippi River, and the bridge was constructed in 1870. But five years later, it came crashing down and five passengers were killed.
The Northern Pacific Railroad bridge over the Mississippi River in Brainerd collapsed in 1875 while a train was on it. The engineer, a fireman and several passengers died in the accident. The engine, nearly a dozen cars of merchandise and almost a dozen cars of steel rails went into the river.