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Dunn’s Bridge County Park sits at the southern border of Porter and Jasper Counties in Northwest Indiana. The park contains a unique and historic bridge with an interesting and mysterious story behind it.
Dunn’s Bridge was built by farmer J.D. Dunn, who owned property on both sides of the Kankakee River. Exactly when he built the bridge and from where he got the material to build it, we don’t know.
It’s possible Dunn’s Bridge could have been built in the mid-1890s with steel salvaged from a building at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. Or, it could have been built in 1904 with parts from the original Ferris Wheel that was at the same World’s Fair but dismantled in 1904.
The Ferris Wheel theory is more romantic but experts believe it’s impossible. It’s more likely that the steel came from one of two buildings at the fair, Machinery Hall or Electricity Hall, and was built in the 1890s. The radius and arch shape of four sections of the bridge match that of both buildings. In fact, Machinery Hall burned down and the steel was sold for scrap around the time the bridge was built.
Kankakee River
The bridge is also a great place to view the Kankakee River. It’s a popular river for fishing and boating. The park provides the only designated public access to the river in Porter County, allowing people to launch their boats there. Bluegill, crappie, bass, walleye, and northern pike are among the fish that can be caught.
