San Antonio Bridge
Posted by: 
SaltyDog20
N 13° 28.595 E 144° 45.013
55P E 256448 N 1490954
Stone bridge spanning the Agana canal built by the Spanish and dedicated to San Antonio de Padua. It is the last Spanish-era stone bridge still standing in the capital.
Waymark Code: WMM74H
Location: Guam
Date Posted: 08/03/2014
Views: 6
The San Antonio or Stone Bridge was built over the Hagatna River in 1800 by the Spanish Governor Manuel Muro and dedicated to San Antonio de Padua. It spanned the Agana Canal between the pre World War II districts of San Ignacio and Bilibic. The bridge is a good example of the Spanish stone construction of the 19th century. The coconut tree lined Hagatna River flowed parallel to the ocean and offered a picturesque setting where people strolled past wading caribao, splashing children, and women washing the family clothes along the riverbank.
The bridge has survived floods, high surf and war. For 150 years the bridge welcomed lumbering caribao families in wooden carts, barefooted skipping children, strolling mestiza clad women, marching uniformed military men and the baker pulling his bread wagon. When the Americans rebuilt Hagatna after World War II, the river was diverted, creating a park around the war-damaged bridge. Over the years it has been partially restored.
Similar stone bridges were part of the Camino Real, the important Spanish coastal road south of Umatac. The San Antonio Bridge is on the Guam and National Registers of Historic Places.
Street address:
Sirena Park
Aspinall Ave
Hagåtña, Guam USA
County / Borough / Parish: Hagatna
Year listed: 1974
Historic (Areas of) Significance: Last remaining stone bridge in the capital
Periods of significance: N/A
Historic function: Bridge spanning the Agana river connecting former districts San Ignacio and Bilibic.
Current function: Cultrual Monument
Privately owned?: no
Primary Web Site: [Web Link]
Season start / Season finish: Not listed
Hours of operation: Not listed
Secondary Website 1: Not listed
Secondary Website 2: Not listed
National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed
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