Visiting The London Bridge - Arizona's #2 Tourist Attraction?
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- Опубліковано 14 лют 2023
- The London Bridge claims to be the #2 tourist attraction in Arizona. We don't know if that's true, or how they even measure that, but in any case The London Bridge in Lake Havasu City has always been a surprising piece of history in the Arizona desert.
The bridges story dates back long before Lake Havasu City was founded, long before Arizona was a state, or even part of the United States for that matter. The London Bridge dates back to 1831, having been built on the River Thames in London, UK to replace an older version of the bridge.
Instantly the bridge began sinking in the river, and by the 1960s the bridge could no longer handle modern traffic. Someone got the idea to put the bridge up for sale to help fund a new bridge, and an unlikely buyer emerged, Robert McCulloch, a real estate developer and the founder of Lake Havasu City.
At the cost of millions of dollars, the bridge was disassembled, labeled, shipped to the United States, and reassembled at Lake Havasu. The bridge that once crossed the River Thames now crossed the Colorado River.
In this video we take a look around the bridge, explore its history, and talk about its connection to David Hasselhoff...
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Back in 1963, I was based in Germany and took a two week leave in Britain. While in London I walked across this very bridge. Now ten years ago I walk across this very bridge on a fine 110° day.
Dude how crazy is that...
Thank you for your service Robert! 🇺🇸🙌🩷🫶♥️🤍💙
As a kid in the late 60s, my family started going to Havasu and we saw the bridge in pieces in a field before it was reassembled.
I lived in those houses just to the east of The Compound.
WOW !! 👍😀💜🥁🐉🎤🎶💞
Whilst staying in Las Vegas for a week, my brother and I took a day trip to Lake Havasu. We stopped to ask a local where the bridge was. He said we'd just driven over it!
I can see how you'd miss it going over the top!
lol
@@SidetrackAdventures Great Job!
After watching an old video of Steve's, I'm impressed at the level of professionalism his channel has achieved in a few years.
As good as anybody out there.
Thank you, I appreciate it.
I agree with you.
It's a very small world these days, more so than when this bridge spanned the River Thames. Brought back a few memories here Steve, I worked in London from 1966 until 1978 when I took up a more local job which didn't entail commuting into the city. I walked across that bridge regularly as my train terminus was on the north side of the river and my office was on the south side. This was always fun during rush hour as my journeys were against the main pedestrian flow across the bridge. The reason for this is that London Bridge Station (a very busy major rail terminus) is at the southern end of the bridge whilst the main part of the city's financial and business district is on the north side. It was very interesting to watch progress during the construction of the new bridge between 1967 and 1972 as it was being built around the old 'Lake Havasu' one.
The 'Falling Down' nursery rhyme was actually written about a much earlier London Bridge which was falling into disrepair. The place where London Bridge is situated was the first crossing point of the Thames when the Romans arrived in Britain, and to this day every bridge which occupies that position has been named London Bridge.
Seems weird seeing it at now at Lake Havasu!
My Father unloaded the bridge at Los Angeles Container Terminal. Brought home a couple of chunks, that sadly have been lost.
As someone who lives in Lake Havasu, it can be easy to forget how interesting of a landmark the bridge is to people from out of town. To me it’s just the bridge that crosses the Channel, but it has quite a bit of very interesting history
Actually, the scars of WW2 are much more visible on another section of American soil; the island of Attu in the outermost Aleutians, which was actually captured by the Japanese and was the site of a full-scale battle in 1943. In part because of its remoteness, many of the tanks, jeeps, and other equipment were just left there to rust, and are still visible today.
That's why I said continental United States! Attu is a dream destination for me, mainly because my grandfather was there during WWII and so few people know about it. Most people are shocked to learn that Japan actually captured and held part of Alaska.
With you in front of that British phone booth, it would’ve been cool if you had worn a neck scarf like the early incarnations of Doctor Who. I know, I know, Dr Who didn’t travel in a red phone booth. He traveled in TARDiS whose exterior was similar to a British police call box. Despite the silliness, this was a very well done explanation of how the bridge arrived in Havasu. You filmed this at a perfect time of year. The Colorado river area is so gorgeous during the winter months.
I actually said to my wife they are missing a big opportunity by not putting a police box that looks like the TARDIS there. Imagine all of the people taking pictures for social media.
I was in high school in San Diego when this bridge was installed. It's so weird that the bridge is there and all the English style shops and whatnot juxtaposed with the desert landscape and bright sunlight. Actually, the number 2 tourist attraction in Arizona is Sedona. Depending on the list you find, the bridge is like #17.
Yeah, I'm not sure what metric they used to come up with it being #2.
I would've thought the No. 2 attraction was Meteor Crater or one of the Pueblo sites.
@@SidetrackAdventures I'm willing to bet they count crossed traffic as visitor's and just use the traffic numbers which i mean is pretty sly but not technically wrong either
I was in the seventh grade at the Smoketree school and lived less than a mile from the Bridge.
What is in Sedona Arizona?
My Mom was the first person who put a note in her column that McCulloch was looking into buying the London Bridge. The column went nation wide.
Thanks for stopping by and giving some info on the bridge, I live in Lake Havasu City!
The reason it's so popular is the boating in the lake. October is the Jetski World Finals at Crazy Horse Campground, and pulls in a ton of folks from around the world to see the bridge as well as hang out in the area. Site 6 is one of the most popular boat ramps in the area so new folks come to the area when they go boating and spend time at the bridge. The food shops beside the bridge are all pretty decent. Locals use it as their excersize and playground daily. Lots of boat concerts and other attractions take place in the summer under the bridge. I don't know if it's "2nd most popular tourist... " but there are times when it's covered from one side to another. There have been PLENTY of car accidents on the bridge, and they keep spare parts to model replacements after.
We ate lunch at the place right below the bridge and the onion rings were massive. It seemed like each ring was half an onion.
@@SidetrackAdventures Makai Cafe, perhaps?
@@SidetrackAdventures FYI, Next weekend is the Mark Hahn Memorial 6 hour endurance jetski race just up the road a bit at the new Point Beach, Lake Havasu State Park in Havasu. Always something going on in that sleepy desert town.
They need a English pub there!
Right on Mr. Steve I was there in the early 1980's back then it was a party place. they sure cleaned it up. I was going to say I believe it's New York city that still has a rod iron fence that's still in use, with the British Cross from the Crown on it, dates back when those red coats came to town. Sound like a road trip, have a good day.
I think you are right. I remember seeing that at some point but couldn't remember if it was in New York or Boston.
I kayaked down the Colorado, leaving from Needles, AZ. In the 80's. And under this bridge. Another trip down memory lane. Thank you Steve and Steve's helpers.
This channel has become my personal, virtual travel agent. They visit all the places I want to see - but saves me the trouble of a 16hr flight (one way) and $ exchange rates! Thanks so much Steve and the entire SA crew!
Our pleasure!
Another great video with fine historical documentation. As a teenager in Phoenix in the mid 1960s with a fondness for vintage aircraft, I remember McCulloch had a Lockheed Constellation airliner that made weekly flights carrying prospective investors there. No doubt from Los Angeles as well. Later the planes were Lockheed Electras.
For years at the old Lake Havasu Airport the Connie's were stored on the south flight line. As a kid we would watch the "Money Planes" crab land because of the heavy winds crossing the airport. My Dad was one of the salesman there.
I actually had to go back and hear the part again where you said that there was damage to the bridge left there from world war II ... And it was the only place in the "continental" US ... Because I have been to hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii where the bullet holes in the barracks are still visible.
There is likely bomb damage in Oregon as well.
Yeah, you can find damage in Alaska too still.
There's no visible damage at Fort Stevens as far as I know. From what I remember only the backstop at the baseball field was damaged.
@@SidetrackAdventures that I did NOT know ...
@@SidetrackAdventures Yes, the area around Fort Srevens was shelled from a submarine (I-25) in June 1942. And an airplane from that same submarine bombed the Oregon coast in September 1942 starting a forest fire. The pilot, Nobuo Fujita, later returned to that area to apologize to the residents.
Great video, as usual. Looking forward to the next one.
I had family that lived there which gave me an opportunity to visit this bridge a few times. So neat to see you do a video on it!
Privileged to walk Rotary & the London Bridge every day before I get in to work. Thanks for covering it. Yes it has Changed very much over the last - 15 years especially the parking lot
Well, I hope it's changed for the better.😊
Thanks Steve for another enjoyable video! Will have to stop next time I’m near there.
I was going to mention the swallows nesting under the bridge. Glad that they are still there! The river is a long time family vacation destination, I was 12 when the bridge was rebuilt there. Ive been on a boat going under the bridge and never forgot the swallows
Thanks! Thanks! Great history - and great story and - great knowledge!
Your videos remind me of the film travelogues we watched in school in the 1960s. They were succinct (because film was expensive and attention spans were short) and matter of fact, but still filled with human interest material and a pleasant soundtrack... without looking like it came from the local chamber of commerce. It's an art form unto itself and you've got a good grip on it. Thanks.
This was another of wonderful and informative video. Thank you! I remember an episode of Kolcheck in the 70's about the bridge too. SF
Very good content. Thanks for showing us around for those who can't travel. Greets from down under.
My aunt and uncle visited the London bridge and sent me a post card of it ,,wow what a beautiful bridge ,, Steve you and your family always find the coolest of places to explore ,,thanks😊
I remember reading an article in a British newspaper a few months after he bough the bridge expressing buyers remorse.
Sparently the buyer was ubder the impression he had bought Tower Bridge.
That was my understanding, too! Poor guy, stuck with this one! Lol
THANK YOU STEVE,GREAT STORY..SAFE TRAVELS..
Gosh, I enjoy your videos! Thanks for the history too
Glad you like them!
Looks like a beautiful spot and some fun history, if I was in the area
I would want to check it out. See your video is adding to it’s popularity,
maybe it will be the second most popular attraction in Arizona after
all 😀. Thanks for the video !
I don't think I have that type of pull, but thank you.
Such an awesome, amazing story, never realized the whole story that went along with that,
Great History Lesson for all .... Thanks .....
Thanks Steve for all of the awesome content! I found your channel a few months back and dang I have some catching up to do! I’m on a mission to watch all of these videos with great information and facts. Thanks again! Safe travels sir
Thank you, I appreciate it.
@@SidetrackAdventures no thanks you!! Keep up the great work!!
This is a brilliant idea for a YT channel. All of these offbeat locations are not interesting enough for a 8 hour drive, but they are interesting enough to watch a video about
Excellent work MrSteve☺️
Thank you kindly
I've recently come across your channel and have been binge watching! I love to travel but am currently unable to do so much anymore. Your channel is very interesting and informative and I love it!
BTW, that David Hasselhoff movie was from 1985, one of NBC's "Movie Of The Week" offerings. It was called 'Bridge Across Time' (aka 'Terror At London Bridge'). I vaguely recall watching it when it aired.
That was fun! I knew it was there, but not much about the history. The lamp posts being made from Waterloo cannons is a terrific historical tidbit! I wonder what French Aristocrats' items were melted down to make the cannons in the first place? I've never heard of this David Hasselhoff movie. I'm almost tempted to watch it...almost. :)
I think it was called "Terror on the London Bridge". It was filmed in the mid to late 1980's.
Great video.
When I was a kid in school we heard about the bridge being moved to the Desert.
Very interesting!
Would love to see you explore “the plank roads” in Winterhaven, as well as the old cemetery at the Glamis “Beach” store. History of Chinese railroad workers, as well as pioneers succumbing to “consumption” buried there.
My high school choir sang at the “Opening” of the bridge in 1972. Dan Rowen ( Laugh In ), & , Loren Green ( Bonanza ) were there to promote it.
So cool !
Dude i love this channel
Thanks!
That’s a location I would like to visit. Thanks again, Steve.
The most amazing revelation in this video is that you’ve watched a David Hasselhoff movie! 😂 Love the video, keep them coming!👍🏼
Oh how funny. Ours is coming out on Tuesday. It’s great to see someone else’s take on it and we learned more from watching this. Great job Steve.
Can't wait to see it. We must have just missed each other.
@@SidetrackAdventures We filmed there in January. A little on the brisk side.
Thanks!
Love the video, Steve, and--as always--really appreciate the research involved. However, you might want to update the part about "the only place on American soil where you can still see the scars of WWII" (I'm paraphrasing here). Last I checked, Guam--"Where America's Day Begins"--is still considered American soil and boy, oh boy, do they EVER have a lot of scars from WWII battles, as I recall seeing during my three-year tour of duty there.
Yeah, I said continental United States in the video because of places like Guam, Hawaii, and the Aleutians. Would love to visit Guam and check it out though.
Really mind blowing thinking of the hisory of the bridge.
I first learned of the London Bride in Arizona from the most EXCELLENT movie Falling Down starring Michael Douglas. Anyone else?
The bridge used to be longer, when it was in London. I gather that both ends, which attached to the south and north banks of the Thames, weren’t saved. I could be wrong?
I have travelled across the bridge when it was in London and also in its new location. How fun would it have been if you had to drive over it on the left 🙂
Great video! While we knew a great deal about the bridge being from Arizona, I didn't know about some of the other statues and things around it. The bit about the melted metal still gets me.. just so hard to fathom the history that led to them being over a lake in desert. 😅
I can just imagine that when they decided to try and sell it, the disbelief when someone in Arizona wanted to buy it.
And Robert thought he was getting Tower Bridge..
You can still see bullet holes in Hawaii from the attack on Pearl Harbor from WW2. I was born in England (Dad was in the USAF) and while I'm sure I'm not the only one, I have been on that bridge in both locations.
Magnífico! 😊👍🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thanks! 😊
Thank you, I really appreciate it.
We moved to Parker Dam Ca in 1968 and use to put our boat in the river and ski up to Lake Havasu. My dad was a power plant operator at the dam. We watch them bring in the London bridge in pieces and assemble it. We went to opening ceremonies. My mom said when we lived there it was a 5 year vacation.
In Junior High since ther wasn't a road north of the Bill Williams River we would take the power line road from Havasu to go to Parker Dam to play basketball. So sad to see they tore down everything down there.
I’m from Texas, and the bridge is in the song “London Homesick Blues” by Gary P Nunn from about 1972.
Well when you’re down on your luck
And you ain’t got a buck
In London you’re a goner
Even London Bridge is fallin’ down
And moved to Arizona.
Jerry Jeff Walker has sung a song that mentions this very bridge in it called "London Homesick Blues." It was written by Gary P. Nunn.
I love the history you add to your videos. But, you didn't mention that when the bridge was purchased, they thought they were getting the Tower Bridge. :)
Because it's not true.
Love Havasu 😎
Visited the bridge in 73. Had an authentic piece of it from the gift shop.
There are boat tours of the lake and the bullet marks were pointed out to us by the guides. They also provided a detailed biography of McCollough and his business skill.
The pizza place papa Leone there is fire… so good
Possibly the Monty Python members may have had their Street Climbing sketch done on this bridge...
Well now I have to watch that old David Hasselhoff movie 😊
Only do it if you like bad movies, I don't want to be responsible for this haha
@@SidetrackAdventures straight to dvd movies are my favorite, the worse the better.
What a wonderfully absurd bridge! I remember hearing about this being transported to Arizona when I was a child.
It really is a pretty bridge
had my favorite fish and chips there pretty cool
If you ate at the same place we did, they had massive onion rings. It felt like each ring was half an onion.
you cant beat our national dish..as we say going to the chippy...
I live in Havasu.. It's a place for 'doers' not really for lookers.. You can drive your Gas dragster to town
or your RZR and take the boat out to the 35 mile long lake. A paradise for boaters. You set your level of excitement.
Mac "Cool-luck" no "Cull-luck" like the chain saw he developed. Or the J-2 Gyroplane, or the MC4 Helicopter, or the outboard boat motors.
LOL at the No Jumping sign
Because the last idiot to jump off drowned stuck up to his knees in the bottom mud.
McCulloch is also known for his chain saws. I visited the bridge when it was being finished and the channel underneath was being dug. I thought it stange to build a bridge on dry land, then bring water to it.
When CalTrans built a below grade freeway in my city, the contractors built two bridges over the planned freeway, They bored vertical shafts for the bridge piers and used the ground as the 'forms' for concrete pours on the bridges. After it set properly, they excavated the dirt and completed the piers, and that was that. It was kind of cool to watch that go on.
I guess its the best way to make sure the bridge fits!
McCulloch is also know for Superchargers.....
VROOM VROOM🏁
I’m in Parker right down the highway from Havasu
My family camped there in the early 1970's, very hot, lots of flies, nothing really there but the lake & bridge. My dad came from England in the 1950's. I remember the village, with some English themed shops, and you could buy a piece of the bridge. I'm pretty sure my mom has a small one somewhere.... In 1987 My husband's work wanted him move there...we drove up and said no....I like the Tucson too much to move. I am sure that if you have a boat, or are from a cold part of country, it is great. LOL it snowed in Tucson today.
I'd pick Tucson for sure too. Hopefully the snow goes away before early March!
You wouldn't even be able to recognize it now.
@@SidetrackAdventures I started about 1am or 2 am. Pretty much gone now. But pretty on the mountains.
❤❤
👍 There's your thumbs up.👍 Here theirs two!!
Did you know the Romans originally called it "Londinium"?
Because BILLIONaire BABY!!!!
it is of a bridge that crossed our great capital...however as if today..there is about 30 bridges that cross the thames..going back to roman london(londinium) there were even then about 3 or 4 bridges..obviously the iconic tower bridge is the if you want to call it london bridge...ps for any visitors to our great metropolis...by tower bridge...on tower hill..there is the remains of the old roman walls
Also featured on an episode of Ghost Adventures.
I did not know that.
@@SidetrackAdventures Episode readily found on a UA-cam search. Possibly other ways to view it.
As a Brit I didn’t know they moved the old Victorian London Bridge to random town, Arizona. I know John Rennie was the architect and designed Waterloo Bridge too.
The new London bright built in the 1960s looks awful and is part of the brutalist architecture that damaged London and British cities from 1960 onwards.
It’s cool Americans take pride in our own history lol and maintained the bridge so well!
bridge*
The bullet holes are at the base of the pillars by the water line.
*What is the name of that David Hasselhoff movie?* My life will be incomplete without seeing it.
Bridge Across Time. But don't say I didn't warn you!
I’ve been to this bridge in 1973 or so and what I remember was 2 kids spitting from the top center down on us while paddling a rental 😬
I’d bet someone asked, at some point: “You sent it WHERE?!”
Have been there several times but I don't know the history of the locks on the gate?
When you see the crowds in Sedona, you know for certain what the 2nd most visited tourist site in Arizona is.
Some of the worst traffic I've been in was in Sedona.
@@SidetrackAdventures Good to hear from you directly. Really enjoying your channel.👍
i have lived in LHC since 1978......
It was moved there so Gary P. Nunn and Jerry Jeff Walker could write and perform "London Homesick Blues".
Tower bridge is the one that fell in the Thames River not the bridge in the song
Your comment about the city layout more than likely rehers to how most of the major streets are laid out in a horseshoe loop. One end of the starts out as (name) North, then loops around to wind up on the far side of town as (name) South. The road leading from the bridge will take you to downtown and most of the retail everyday stores.
Yes. It's pretty easy to find your way around too.
Having lived in London for several years I see little in common with this place...
One point that does make sense is that apparently vandals have removed the phone box door…Good move as they always smelled of urine from memory…assuming you were strong enough to open the cast Iron self closing door…
I moved here in 2020 and love it here. It get warm in the summer, but that also means the rest of the seasons are mild. Winter can be brisk during the mornings but tend to warm up later in the day. Remember you don’t have to shovel sunshine 😊
No bullets flew in London in World war 2, the Germans never made it there and the Battle of London was in 1013 before this bridge was built.
Possibly there might be some bomb damage from the battle of Britain, when German bombers tried to destroy London in "the blitz"?
I meant to say Battle of Britain, thanks!
:)
I think you have an error. If you go to Hickam AFB in Hawaii, you can see plenty of bullet holes from WWII.
I've seen the damage in Hawaii, that's why I said continental united States in the video. There is still damage in Alaska too.
The dragons Tongue is an arrow head ..with barbs … kind of horrible Roman, London creature like the adversary