From Thames to Desert: The Unexpected Journey of London Bridge
An Icon Reborn: London Bridge's Grand American Odyssey
The Fading Glory of an Ancient Crossing
In the mid-20th century, London's venerable bridge, a structure with roots stretching back to Roman times, faced a critical predicament. The 19th-century iteration of the bridge, never designed to bear the burden of modern vehicular traffic, was literally sinking into the Thames's muddy banks. The immense weight of automobiles and double-decker buses was slowly but inexorably compromising its foundations. Faced with the inevitable need for a replacement, city officials in London conceived an unconventional solution: rather than demolition, the bridge would be offered for sale to the highest bidder.
The Unlikeliest Purchaser: A Visionary in the Desert
The notion of acquiring an entire bridge was, to say the least, peculiar. Speculation ran wild about who might possibly be interested in such an immense and impractical "souvenir." Yet, an unexpected figure emerged: Robert McCulloch, an American industrialist renowned for inventing the handheld chainsaw and developing marine engines. McCulloch, seeking a new location for his manufacturing operations and a vision for a thriving desert community, had set his sights on Lake Havasu in Arizona. He saw the lake's potential not just for industry, but as a future tourist destination. Upon hearing the London Bridge was available, he conceived of an audacious plan to transport and reassemble it in the heart of the Arizona desert.
From England to Arizona: A Monumental Undertaking
McCulloch's proposal was met with skepticism, even from his own business associate, C.V. Wood, a designer behind Disneyland. Yet, McCulloch's determination was unwavering. His winning bid, significantly higher than initial estimates and sweetened with an additional sum for each year of his life, convinced London to part with its landmark. The subsequent relocation was a logistical marvel. The bridge was carefully dismantled, each granite block meticulously numbered, and shipped through the Panama Canal to Southern California. From there, the thousands of numbered pieces embarked on their final overland journey to Lake Havasu City.
Reconstruction and Unexpected Discoveries
The reconstruction of the bridge commenced in 1968, a complex undertaking likened to a massive jigsaw puzzle. To truly integrate the bridge into its new setting, a peninsula was transformed into an island, creating a water channel for the bridge to span. The multi-year project captured public imagination, but also drew local critics, notably newspaper columnist Jack Hardie, who famously bet the completion would be delayed. He won his bet, but the bridge builders had their own form of retribution. Decades later, during maintenance, a peculiar concrete slab was found beneath the bridge, revealing a startling discovery: a voodoo doll of Jack Hardie, complete with pins, seemingly a humorous curse from the original construction crew.
A Legacy Solidified: The Bridge's Enduring Impact
Though Robert McCulloch passed away in 1977, just six years after the bridge's grand reopening in 1971, his bold vision for Lake Havasu City had taken root. The community flourished, growing from a few thousand residents to tens of thousands, driven in part by the unique allure of its transplanted landmark. While direct attribution of growth is complex, the bridge undeniably put Lake Havasu City on the map, transforming it into a tourist magnet. Today, an "English village" complete with shops and restaurants surrounds the bridge, and Jack Hardie's infamous voodoo doll is a curious exhibit at the local visitor center, a testament to the bridge's remarkable and eccentric history.