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In this episode of Our Living History, we explore the fascinating history of the Old Sunset Beach Swing Bridge and the people whose vision, hard work, and determination helped shape Sunset Beach, North Carolina.

We’ll discuss the historic swing bridge that connected the mainland to Sunset Beach for decades and examine how it became one of the community’s most recognizable landmarks. Through photographs, artifacts, records, and exhibits preserved at the Old Bridge Museum, we uncover stories that many visitors to Sunset Beach may never have heard.

The episode also looks at the work of Mannon C. Gore, whose dredge, the Little Dawn, was used in the hydraulic dredging process that helped create the causeway to the island. Museum exhibits explain how material dredged from a parallel channel known as Gore’s Ditch was used to build up the causeway, helping make access to the island possible.

Finally, we examine the efforts of the Old Bridge Preservation Society, which was formed in 2010 by Karen Dombowski, Chris Wilson, and Ann Bokelman to save the historic bridge from demolition. Through the support of thousands of residents, visitors, and property owners, the bridge and tender house were preserved and relocated, ensuring that future generations can continue to learn from this important piece of Sunset Beach history.

The Old Bridge Preservation Society and Museum are currently fundraising to help pay for the relocation of the bridge to its new home next door and for future preservation costs.

To learn more about the museum or support their preservation efforts, visit:

http://www.theoldbridge.org/

If you enjoy local history, museums, historic preservation, and stories from America’s past, be sure to follow Our Living History wherever you listen to podcasts.