Structure, Pontiac, since 1936
Gillespie Street-Clinton River Bridge
Photographed standing in 2010
- Opened
- 1936
- Style
- Concrete Rigid Frame
- Standing
- 90 years
The Gillespie Street-Clinton River Bridge has stood on Gillespie St. over Clinton River in Pontiac since 1936, 90 years and counting. Who built it, what makes it special and how to see it for yourself.
What is there now
Standing
We checked building permits, sales, listings and the city's blight and demolition files on October 24, 2026. Nothing new at this address in the last two years.
The story
In 1936, as the region worked through hard times and then boomed after the war, the Gillespie Street-Clinton River Bridge opened in Pontiac.
It was built in the Concrete Rigid Frame style, and it still reads that way from the sidewalk.
It joined the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.
Next time you are nearby, stop at Gillespie St. over Clinton River and look up.
The Gillespie Street-Clinton River Bridge is a bridge carrying Gillespie Street over the Clinton River in Pontiac, Michigan. It is a relatively early example of a rigid-frame bridge in Michigan. The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.
Timeline
- 1936 Built Concrete Rigid Frame
- 2000 Listed on the National Register January 27, 2000
- 2026 Today 90 years and still standing
Where it is
Gillespie St. over Clinton River, Pontiac
On this map
- 1 Gillespie Street-Clinton River Bridge This place
- 2 Franklin Boulevard Historic District 0.7 mi
- 3 St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church, Convent, and School 0.7 mi
- 4 Myrick-Palmer House 0.7 mi
- 5 Pontiac Commercial Historic District 0.8 mi
- 6 Casa del Rey Apartments 0.8 mi
- 7 Eagle Theater 0.8 mi
- 8 Pontiac Commercial Historic District (Boundary Increase) 0.9 mi
- 9 Central School 0.9 mi
Street map from OpenStreetMap contributors
Around the block
-
Franklin Boulevard Historic District
Historic district, built 1848, Greek Revival
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
0.7 mi
-
![St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church, Convent, and School, St Vincent DePaul Catholic Church Pontiac MI. On the National Register of Historic Places]](https://rebuilddetroit.com/wp-content/uploads/rd-photos/landmarks/landmark-5134-822-thumb-9038613238.jpg)
St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church, Convent, and School
House of worship, built 1885, Gothic Revival, by Donaldson & Meier
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
0.7 mi
-
Myrick-Palmer House
Built 1855, Italian Villa
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
0.7 mi
-
Pontiac Commercial Historic District
Historic district, built 1865, Early Commercial, by Smith, Hinchman & Grylls
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
0.8 mi
-
Casa del Rey Apartments
Building, built 1928, Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
0.8 mi
-
Eagle Theater
Theater, built 1927, Moorish
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
0.8 mi
- Pontiac Commercial Historic District (Boundary Increase) Historic district 0.9 mi
-
Central School
School, built 1893, Richardsonian Romanesque
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
0.9 mi
Photo credits
Every photo on this page is used under its license, named here with its author and a link to the original.
- Gillespie Street-Clinton River Bridge Pontiac MI, 2010 Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Sources
Facts only, gathered from these sources. The story above is written by Rebuild Detroit. Every photo names its author and license where it appears.