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My Mom worked for the McCulloch family as their nanny for their kids. She always kept in touch and was good friends with them. I remember visiting them when I was a teen at their home in Bel-air (sometime in the 60's), they lived on the golf course. They told me what they were doing, and had a piece of granite on their end table, they said was from it. My Mom also worked for the Pabst family, (Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer) as their nanny. And the Stratton's (Briggs & Stratton Engines) family. My Mom was popular with the old Milwaukee Industrialists. She had an interesting life before I was born. I miss her, she had so many great stories. She passed away in 2013 at the age of 91. Still have never seen the bridge, and have been to AZ after it was built. Now I wish I would've taken the time to see it. So glad I stumbled on this vid. Brought back some good old's memories. I'm now 68yrs old. If you took the time to actually read all of this, thank-you for your time.
Your recollection could conceivably have been added to this documentary and I wouldn't have scoffed at all. I too was lucky enough to be related to a legendary person. I met my 113 year old great, great, great grandmother when I was maybe 8. I'm close to 60 now. She was a teenager when Lincoln was shot. The one big thing I remember her saying was that food was scarce. She told me of eating grass just to survive and how silly everybody was during the so called great depression as it paled in comparison to her teen years.
the people of London happily said tat tar to the thing. it was not fit for prepose and a pain in the bum. that said it really nice its found a home and is well used and wanted.
My Grandfather worked directly along side McCulloch and founded Lake Havasu, Az. It was great to grow up hearing the stories from my grandfather about bringing the bridge over and flying people from California in his small plane to sell property to. He was a great man!
I have oceanfront beach property near Lake Havasu, Arizona, that I inherited. And I would like to sell. Anyone interested? Call me; the link is at the end of comments.
mate the school my dad went to as a little kid had Napoleonic cannons as traffic bollards. they stopped people parking on the pavement outside to front gate. this kind of thing is not unusual this side of the pond.
Our Father, from Montana, crossed the bridge many times in London during WW2. He was a flyer, stationed near Norwich with a bomber group. Fast forward to the 70's, he retired to AZ and crossed the bridge many times again.
My favorite story about this is after the guy made the winning bid for London Bridge, and flew home, he said he was handed the standard customs form for purchases made abroad. He looked it over and wrote, "One bridge, $2,460,000. Exempt - antique." 🤣🤣
did that really happen? it would be nice if it did. but seeing as he had to get an exemption from the Home Hoffice and a Tax Office note to transfer the money. it seems extremely unlikely the US customs would have any forms for him to fill in when he got back home.
@@tommyfred6180 Maybe. McCullough told that story a few times, including on The History Channel's History's Lost and Found. So, I'm willing to take his word for it. Either way, it's a cool story, isn't it?
As a young truck driver in the 80's I hauled boats .Every year I would take the new Bayliner boats to a A boat dealer next to the bridge .so they could be photographed for the new catalog's and stay at the motel next to the bridge .it was wonderful to walk around the base of it and see how well it was built and see the unrepaired damage done to it from W.W.2 bullet pock mark's from machine guns and rifle fire .I did this for 5 years .On 1 year I was there they set a record hi temp record at 117degrees at 2 A.M.my truck got stuck into the new asphalt road because of this the tread marks stayed imprinted there for years .
@@bromanguydudesir Kiddo, before you try to be smart: There is this thing called an aeroplane and said aeroplane is fittet with fast firering guns to take out other things
@@christophersteele5709 is it possible he wasn't refuting the story and was just pointing out that OP doesn't understand the way those marks got there?
@@ednorton47 I’m getting older and looking to get out of the “Warmer “ 🔥🔥🔥118 degree temps we had this year… it has been miserable… now we’ll probably get eaten up by mosquitoes 🦟
@@budz3706 Dug holes and poured the foundations for the piers. Used the earth to form the arches, and poured them in place. Then excavated the earth from beneath.
We did not have social media back in 74 when I saw the bridge. Havasu was only a lake. Did not see the bridge when we stopped over on way to Vegas until the next morning. We were camped out on the lake and I thought I was seeing a mirage. A beautiful site to be sure. How did I not know it was there? Lived in Tucson several years. Glad to see it’s story.
@Judykay Macgreagor I was born and raised in Az. and had no clue about the bridge until my late teens. Since I was all of 12 when it opened, that would explain it. The CBS evening news with Walter Cronkite wasn't on my list of things to do at that age.
@@judykaymacgreagor4422 Lived in Tucson my whole life and had heard the bridge was moved to the US, but I thought it was in a museum somewhere on the east coast. Never would have imagined the bridge would be moved not only across the Atlantic, but then across the Continental United States.
Fun Fact: Many Americans were initially disappointed with 'London Bridge' in Arizona. They mistook Tower Bridge for London Bridge. Tower Bridge is definitively iconic. Sightseers were expecting to see the 2 towers, one one each end of bridge. It all worked out anyway. One man's vision turned into a tourist attraction that put his town squarely on the map. Today, it would look weird if the Bridge wasn't there. Everyone loves their London Bridge and their famous town.
@@cityzens634 I don't think many Londoners think that now, but back in the 60's - 70's, if I had been asked "Where is Tower Bridge?" I would have known, but if I was asked "so where is London Bridge?" I don't think I'd have been at all sure. I don't live in London, and I almost never go there (though it's only 45 minutes in the car - on a good day!), so I have some excuse, but if I was asked to identify some of the others - Lambeth Bridge, Vauxhall Bridge, Blackfriars Bridge, etc - I'd be stumped.
The Lake Havasu runway used to be next to the bridge. I flew a C-172 from MCAS El Toro to Havasu in 1975 and had fish and chips at the British themed village. That was pretty cool for a 20 year old Marine.
Great to see people informed about the bridge. While staying in Laughlin, Nevada, I drove over to Havasu for the day, enjoying the area and walking the bridge. I think it was great to save this piece of history.
I used to live in Phoenix, Arizona in the '80s, then moved to Las Vegas, Nevada. From Las Vegas, I visited the London Bridge in Arizona. Not long after, I moved to England and crossed the London Bridge in London. And the Westminster Bridge. Fun times.
Brilliantly told story. I remember driving across the old London Bridge and seeing the new one under construction with my dad is his grey Ford Anglia. Must have been around 1967 when I would have been 7 years old. It was very exciting to a small boy as it was all over the news about the old bridge being sold to America. Maybe I should travel over to Arizona to see it again.
I was fortunate to have a vaycay to Las Vegas 10 years ago and we went down to Laughlin for 5 days at first ... A visit to the London Bridge was an amazing part of it ... This is a very well made informative video , so glad to have seen it ---- Thanks It's History !!
So glad it was saved! Never knew about this story but soon as I started hearing your video I thought this would be a success who wouldn't want to see London bridge its world famous historical bridge! Love how the lamp posts are Napoleans cannons!!😂 But my favourite bridge is the older one that had all the buildings built on top of the bridge!! Really love the look of that bridge!! Was imagining crossing the bridge when all the heads where on pikes & there was stalls & shops etc on the bridge must have been fantastic!!
Back in the late 90’s a vehicle went off the side into the channel and broke the banisters and stone railings. I was commissioned to paint a mural on the temporary plywood that spaced the open gap. I was also give a piece of a broken banister of which I donated to a now long gone attraction that existed in the English Village under the bridge.
was very excited to see/cross it new about it since 80,s in 2010s lived in las vegas an got fience all hyped to do the road trip got my autistic son singing the song followed the mapquest directions but could not find it .turned out the little 3rd rate looking overpass thingy was it very disapointing family road trip
@@robertbrodie5183 sorry about that. Indeed the song was about the earlier London Bridge. The Rennie one was more functional, think really of the Noel Coward song "London Pride" as indeed it became associated with London and WW2 survival. Putney Bridge in London is of a similar design. A lot of the bridges had tolls for many years, the money went to the Corporation of London Bridge House Charity which provides Education grants to london kids. It might get mentioned in the Broadcast of the Lord Mayors show early in Nov if you can get a look at that.
its a pretty average bait and switch tourist trap of its day whole books on them crossed the country in 1970 with parents stoping at many of them revisted the "best snack bar by a damn site" in boulder city when i moved to vegas an roadside america pa was (IS?) a great place the homoginization of america due to airtravel and highways has had a cost
I do think it was pretty amazing that they could dismantle, and move the bridge to AZ. I saw it in 2000 when we visited Lake Havasu. Unfortunately we went there in August and they were having heat during the day that I had never experienced before. I seem to remember it being about 120f. To hot to be out doing anything during the day.
@Stephen Hornak Yep, that's August in Arizona. For example, right now, October 5, the rest of the country is happily exchanging soup and stew recipes, and drinking hot spiced lattes, and we in Arizona are still sweating it out with a high of 97 here in Phoenix. I am leaving this "surface of the sun" (one of Arizona's many heat-themed monikers) some time next year and cannot wait.
@@lisahinton9682 I think I remember seeing that Phoenix averages over 90 days each summer over 100f. Too hot for my blood. I hope whenever you move too has better weather for you.
What a great capture and save of History. The bridge looks great in Arizona, also. It's cool to hear how much homage to the first opening they paid during the bridge's second opening.
I went to Lake Havasu specifically to drive over the London bridge. I drove over a bridge but it had nice new pavement and it seemed uneventful so I kept looking for it , finally realizing I'd already been over it. So I went back to drive over it again and appreciated the lamp posts and the arches etc. It was a long drive from Long Beach just to drive over a bridge but I guess it was worth it. I actually like the Eiffel Tower in Las Vegas better......no, not really but it sure was fun riding a roller coaster around the Empire State Building.
Great video. I remember visiting Lake Havasu and the London Bridge when I was just a kid in the early 1970's. Was great fun and the Engish village at one end of the bridge brought it all together. Made for a wonderful family vacation. And for the developer, it was genius to buy and move the bridge to his little town which has grown into a much sought after conventon town!
I remember watching a tv movie in the 80s, terror at london bridge, or something like that, where the bridge was moved to arizona and when the last stone was put in place it resurrected jack the ripper. Mass murders ensued..
I grew up in Lake Havasu and was an extra in that movie - Terror at London Bridge or Bridge Across Time. It starred David Hasselhoff and Stefanie Kramer. It was a cheesy NBC movie of the week.
During a boat tour of the lake I pointed out to the guide some holes on the side of the bridge. I lived in London during the war and the holes were the result of a German fighter that strafed the tames near the bridge killing many including children. From memory it was in 1942. The RAF challenged the German to a dog fight but he was never heard from. It’s a great area to visit in Arizona..
just been looking this up. i can't see an after action report for 1942 that fits. but there is one in 1943 a 'wild cat' raid. but the bridge didn't get hit. the strafing seems to have been directed at the riverside. the damage everyone seems to be referring to is from a 250 sd in 1941. the report said it was a JU88. but i would definitely take that with a big pinch of salt. most air raid wardens couldn't tell the difference or see what was going on.
My best friends dad was the site supervisor on the London Bridge. She and I went with Her dad several times while the bridge was being built. What a memory
That was a fantastic video! I'm from Tucson, Arizona and I remember going to lake Havasu with my parents as a kid when my dad told me that was the London bridge. And explain to me that each piece was marked and sent over a piece by piece. Always astonished me as a kid! I've wanted to hear that story for a long time and I always thought that that bridge was the bridge that the song was about. So I appreciate the update and information. I also had no idea about The Bridges History in the London bombing nor about the lamppost from the Battle of Waterloo. All super fascinating and very cool!
In 1999 I drove 320 miles with a few dollars to spare and lived in my car trying to get a job helping to move the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. I was successful and would do it again if needed. There are so many great people I met from all over the country who loved their particular job whether it be testing the concrete and cement to people who specialized in soil which was completely different from the original site. On top of all of these people from all over was the effect on the local economy as thousands of people came to witness a lighthouse moving down what was essentially a railroad track. Just keeping track of the plinth stones which numbered in the tens with reassembly was a job in itself so I can't imagine a whole bridge as just a little off on one pier or piers settling at different rates could have been catastrophic. Anyways this comment is turning into a book and this was a job I'd have driven cross country to be a part of just for the people and the education of people that love what they do.
We live about an hour away from Lake Havasu and been on the bridge many times. We took a boat ride under the bridge and you can see the bullet markings on the bridge from WW2. It is facinating to look at and think of the history there.
I remember going to California from Denver Colorado where we lived for a vacation and stopping by Lake Havasu. They just completed assembling the bridge but they had yet to flood the water underneath of it. I’ve got photos of the stones on the bridge with the individual numbers on them so they could reassemble it. I was 10 years old at the time I still remember it well.
I've been on it in Arizona. I use to have a piece of granite that had a label on it stating that is was a part of the London Bridge. Don't know how true that was though. Gave it to an English friend.
Great video! I grew up in Lake Havasu City, and my grandma use to work closely with McCullough. The London Bridge is a nostalgic icon to me because of the memories I have of it.
I'm old enough to remember when the news media (back when it was news, not entertainment) reported that Dave McCullough had the London Bridge taken and rebuilt in Lake Havasu City
I must have travelled over London Bridge when it was still fully in situ. When the new one was being cast in place and the one here being taken down it was a right pain driving over effectively temporary bridge and lane closures, normally I travelled at the weekend , in hindsight trying to find Southwark Bridge and cutting over that would have been quicker !
Robert McCulloch was a descendant of John Beggs. Beggs was heavily involved in both mass transit and the electric power industry in Southeastern Wisconsin as well as in some of the support industries located in the St. Louis area. The family had a mansion on Beggs Island in Lac La Belle, near Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. I have wondered if that family island setting may have influenced Robert McCulloch’s plans for Lake Havasu.
Been there a couple times since moving to AZ. Its definitely interesting to walk over, and kayak under. The restaurant underneath is good too, Burgers by the Bridge.
I literally walked and drove right on this bridge a couple months ago while Visiting lake havasu I literally never heard of lake havasu before my trip there but now I keep hearing about it since I got back weird
Thank you for the history lesson about the bridge, really enjoyed learning the back story. As someone who spent his teenage years living in San Diego County in the late '60s-mid-70s, I can remember reading about the project to bring the bridge and its grand opening. After the failure of the resorts around the Salton Sea, I had wondered if Lake Havasu might not go the same way. Of course, fresh water makes all of the difference. Thanks again, I had little knowledge about the London Bridge.
I remember seeing the London Bridge when it was just a pile of big old blocks surrounded by desert and earth-movers in Lake Havasu - before the lake was constructed. Not too impressive at the time.
My partner's uncle was one of the guys involved in selling it to America. It needed replacing badly, my dad could remember the horse drawn traffic jams on the bridge. There's an apocryphal story about the people buying it thought they were getting Tower Bridge.
We took family trip spring break back late 90s. MTV was on island trash condoms beer cans ect floating in water kite store was cool no $ lol I was 13 or 14 years old. 105*-115* that week !! Dry with Breese blowing all week :) . So coming from humid Ozarks it was great .
Looking at the aerial view on Google Maps, I wonder why there are so many unoccupied roads on Pittsburgh Point? The mainland area of the city is quite large, but the point is largely empty.
14:10 Americans can carry out the most complex construction project like like moving a famous monument to another continent only to later surround said monument with the most awful urban enviroment and a sea of asphalt.
Good day. So. I got some bridge trivia. The remainder of the stone and chain (Havasu gap is narrower than the original location) were purchased by a gentleman and used to build a restaurant in Spring Creek NV. Not sure what they call it now but when I worked there it was known as The Stageline Co. LLC nestled between I80 and the Ruby Mountains just south of Elko NV.
💥 The MOST interesting Financial Fact about the London Bridge project is that McCulloch and Wood actually made a huge PROFIT on this entire deal!! The bridge that you see in Arizona is only the exterior shell granite of the original bridge from London. You see in this video that when the bridge was rebuilt, they created an interior concrete core and rebuilt the exterior facade granite only. McCulloch then Sold the remainder of the granite stone to cemeterys for grave headstones and also the small granite memorabilia 'Pieces of the London Bridge' to many tourists, thereby making more money in the total bridge project than the total price he paid! You need to consider the Genius involved in the Highest Priced Antique purchase in History and you still make a profit on that Deal! And that is only the money they made on the Bridge, BEFORE the fortune McCulloch made on selling all the Real Estate of his new tourist destination, Lake Havasu City! You are all learning about one of the greatest modern stories of the creation of a new American city! And the Londoners who believed that gossip story about buying the Tower Bridge have No Clue about what a Great success this crazy dream has become!! McCulloch and Wood were brilliant visionaries!! 😂
When I moved to London in 2005 and stayed through 2007, someone over there told me that they moved the "original" bridge to Arizona. Now, who in their right mind would believe that? But, I looked it up and was shocked that this happened. Interesting and seemingly impossible. That said, I'm glad it worked out.
I like how the Roman bridge lasted the longest but I suppose it didn't have to deal with cars and trucks and the blitz. London is very old so the bridge may be haunted London is allegedly particularly the underground which has a long some what grim history
The nursery rhyme actually refers to “Old” London Bridge, which stood for about 6 centuries and was replaced by the bridge currently in AZ in the 18th century.
No. This is not "the original London Bridge", nor the London Bridge from the nursery rhyme. That was Old London Bridge. The one in Arizona is merely a Victorian bridge.
I moved to Havasu 5 years ago from Oregon. The bridge is a fabulous center piece and a great attraction. I only wish I had discovered this beautiful oasis 40 years ago. I would have vacationed here with my kids and bought a summer house. This is a great community that is conservative, safe and very family oriented. BTW, McCullough made thousands of dollars selling excess Granite to stone masons and headstone carvers all over America. The man and his partner, Mr. Wood were absolute American geniuses capable of anything they could imagine. They were part of the Greatest American Generation. Great Video , thank you.
@@amazingredkitty3605 There are actually large hunks of Granite blocks that were unused placed around the city. They used them as decorative items in parking strips and traffic islands. Some still have the original blacktop pavement on them! My best friend is from London and he loves walking across the bridge, remembering crossing with his Mum in the old days. Cheers!
At 14:05 "expodentialy" s/b exponentially, but otherwise it's a good episode. Left out was how all the utilities for the area were provided once it had become an island. After all, they had to "cross the Thames" just like the bridge did.
I recently watched a video about Arcosanti, but I don’t remember them mentioning Star Wars. Was it the architectural elements that inspired parts of Star Wars?
Good Story.. There is more information on it if you dig into it. I was there when it was put up and I was 11 during the opening celebration. I have the original pamphlets and newspaper clippings along with photos.
I worked in Lake Havasu in 1967 before the bridge was put in. Just out of high school, I worked at the airport on the pennisula serviceing the Lockheed Constalation passenger planes that were used by McCullock to bring people from Los Angeles to sell housing lots. The alterial motive is to get a population that would work in his manufacturing plant. I used my proceeds to earn my private pilot's license. Pulling weeds on the gravel cross runway was certainly a hot job during the summer months. I visited lately and it has certainly grown up and is certainly more refined and expensive place to live or visit.
My Old Man used to work for Holly Development and would meet those Connies out there by old Site Six. Those three old Connies sat out there for a long time. I remember them too. Beautiful planes.
I completely forgot the London bridge is in Arizona. I remember learning about it as a kid but completely forgot about it. Its an amazing piece of engineering but its even more amazing how they took it apart transported it and put it back together. 😮
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Might as well upload in 4k if you are going to let the video sit for multiple days.
Am I the only one who automatically dislikes videos with 90 seconds of shilling in them, regardless of how good the content is?
why is that shit so loud?
What's "expedentially.."?
No way you play video games 🤣 I don't see it
My Mom worked for the McCulloch family as their nanny for their kids. She always kept in touch and was good friends with them.
I remember visiting them when I was a teen at their home in Bel-air (sometime in the 60's), they lived on the golf course. They told me what they were doing, and had a piece of granite on their end table, they said was from it.
My Mom also worked for the Pabst family, (Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer) as their nanny. And the Stratton's (Briggs & Stratton Engines) family.
My Mom was popular with the old Milwaukee Industrialists. She had an interesting life before I was born. I miss her, she had so many great stories. She passed away in 2013 at the age of 91.
Still have never seen the bridge, and have been to AZ after it was built. Now I wish I would've taken the time to see it.
So glad I stumbled on this vid. Brought back some good old's memories. I'm now 68yrs old.
If you took the time to actually read all of this, thank-you for your time.
what an amazing story and connection to the bridge !!
How on earth did your mother become babysitter to the super rich?
💖
thankyou for sharing.
Your recollection could conceivably have been added to this documentary and I wouldn't have scoffed at all.
I too was lucky enough to be related to a legendary person. I met my 113 year old great, great, great grandmother when I was maybe 8. I'm close to 60 now. She was a teenager when Lincoln was shot. The one big thing I remember her saying was that food was scarce. She told me of eating grass just to survive and how silly everybody was during the so called great depression as it paled in comparison to her teen years.
Robert McCulloch is perhaps the only person in history that got a good deal when being approached by a person who had a bridge to sell him....
True.
I believe you mean a used bridge, haha
@@turbo_brian only used by a little old lady to go to church on Sunday.
Especially when buying it from a government!
You would be amazed as to how many people own Brooklyn bridge.
Genius to move it to Arizona! Instead of being scrapped, it continues to be the main focal point of really nice community!
That King Cnut was a naughty boy! Scandinavia 🇳🇴 🇩🇰 🇸🇪
Bwhahaha “really nice community” have you seen lk havasu?
Honestly that’s true it was to be scrapped… so better that A business magnate in Arizona bought it then.
Where it now stands over a mostly dry riverbed.
the people of London happily said tat tar to the thing. it was not fit for prepose and a pain in the bum.
that said it really nice its found a home and is well used and wanted.
My Grandfather worked directly along side McCulloch and founded Lake Havasu, Az. It was great to grow up hearing the stories from my grandfather about bringing the bridge over and flying people from California in his small plane to sell property to. He was a great man!
I have oceanfront beach property near Lake Havasu, Arizona, that I inherited. And I would like to sell. Anyone interested? Call me; the link is at the end of comments.
The lamp posts being made from Napoleons cannons is a beast move.
Many bollards around London are old canon from the Napoleonic wars with a cannon ball brazed into the barrel and stuck into the ground.
mate the school my dad went to as a little kid had Napoleonic cannons as traffic bollards. they stopped people parking on the pavement outside to front gate. this kind of thing is not unusual this side of the pond.
Almost as much of a beast move as decorating the bridge with the heads of slain opponents. LOL
our country had bollocks once ... we even stuck the heads of enemys on the spikes on tower bridge
Victoria Crosses are made from captured old Cannons too some believe either
Spanish or Chinese but i am not 100% sure
Our Father, from Montana, crossed the bridge many times in London during WW2. He was a flyer, stationed near Norwich with a bomber group. Fast forward to the 70's, he retired to AZ and crossed the bridge many times again.
That's a lovely story , bless your Pops.
Amazing!
Love it
That must be such a weird feeling
My favorite story about this is after the guy made the winning bid for London Bridge, and flew home, he said he was handed the standard customs form for purchases made abroad.
He looked it over and wrote, "One bridge, $2,460,000. Exempt - antique."
🤣🤣
Bob McCulloch had it all figured out
@@TozziWelding Damn straight he did!
@@kali3665 No, not a dam; a bridge.
did that really happen? it would be nice if it did.
but seeing as he had to get an exemption from the Home Hoffice and a Tax Office note to transfer the money. it seems extremely unlikely the US customs would have any forms for him to fill in when he got back home.
@@tommyfred6180 Maybe. McCullough told that story a few times, including on The History Channel's History's Lost and Found. So, I'm willing to take his word for it.
Either way, it's a cool story, isn't it?
As a young truck driver in the 80's I hauled boats .Every year I would take the new Bayliner boats to a A boat dealer next to the bridge .so they could be photographed for the new catalog's and stay at the motel next to the bridge .it was wonderful to walk around the base of it and see how well it was built and see the unrepaired damage done to it from W.W.2 bullet pock mark's from machine guns and rifle fire .I did this for 5 years .On 1 year I was there they set a record hi temp record at 117degrees at 2 A.M.my truck got stuck into the new asphalt road because of this the tread marks stayed imprinted there for years .
My man, there was never ground combat in England during World War 2.
@@bromanguydudesir Kiddo, before you try to be smart: There is this thing called an aeroplane and said aeroplane is fittet with fast firering guns to take out other things
@@enisra_bowman Airplanes don't have rifles, kiddo.
@@bromanguydudesir is it possible he did this as he says, but also doesn't understand every detail of the of the battle of Britain.
@@christophersteele5709 is it possible he wasn't refuting the story and was just pointing out that OP doesn't understand the way those marks got there?
It was getting older and was looking to retire to a warmer, drier, and sunnier climate.
😂
@@ednorton47 I’m getting older and looking to get out of the “Warmer “ 🔥🔥🔥118 degree temps we had this year… it has been miserable… now we’ll probably get eaten up by mosquitoes 🦟
I grew up there, as it was being built. My brother and I were the first civilians to walk across the bridge, before the grand opening. Amazing Times!
You watched it be built?
@@budz3706 YES! It was pretty amazing. Built on dry land, then the channel excavated and dredged beneath.
@@niniliumify Did they build it from top down with the sand there?
@@budz3706 Dug holes and poured the foundations for the piers. Used the earth to form the arches, and poured them in place. Then excavated the earth from beneath.
We did not have social media back in 74 when I saw the bridge. Havasu was only a lake. Did not see the bridge when we stopped over on way to Vegas until the next morning. We were camped out on the lake and I thought I was seeing a mirage. A beautiful site to be sure. How did I not know it was there? Lived in Tucson several years. Glad to see it’s story.
@Judykay Macgreagor I was born and raised in Az. and had no clue about the bridge until my late teens. Since I was all of 12 when it opened, that would explain it. The CBS evening news with Walter Cronkite wasn't on my list of things to do at that age.
@@judykaymacgreagor4422 Lived in Tucson my whole life and had heard the bridge was moved to the US, but I thought it was in a museum somewhere on the east coast. Never would have imagined the bridge would be moved not only across the Atlantic, but then across the Continental United States.
Fun Fact: Many Americans were initially disappointed with 'London Bridge' in Arizona. They mistook Tower Bridge for London Bridge. Tower Bridge is definitively iconic. Sightseers were expecting to see the 2 towers, one one each end of bridge. It all worked out anyway. One man's vision turned into a tourist attraction that put his town squarely on the map. Today, it would look weird if the Bridge wasn't there. Everyone loves their London Bridge and their famous town.
You would be surprised how many British people think Tower Bridge is London Bridge.
@@martynbush3462 Yeah about 2
@@cityzens634 I don't think many Londoners think that now, but back in the 60's - 70's, if I had been asked "Where is Tower Bridge?" I would have known, but if I was asked "so where is London Bridge?" I don't think I'd have been at all sure.
I don't live in London, and I almost never go there (though it's only 45 minutes in the car - on a good day!), so I have some excuse, but if I was asked to identify some of the others - Lambeth Bridge, Vauxhall Bridge, Blackfriars Bridge, etc - I'd be stumped.
The joke in London at the time was that the ignorant American had thought he was actually buying Tower Bridge!
@@NHGMitchell Thanks for comment... good joke on the Americans
The Lake Havasu runway used to be next to the bridge. I flew a C-172 from MCAS El Toro to Havasu in 1975 and had fish and chips at the British themed village. That was pretty cool for a 20 year old Marine.
Great to see people informed about the bridge. While staying in Laughlin, Nevada, I drove over to Havasu for the day, enjoying the area and walking the bridge. I think it was great to save this piece of history.
I used to live in Phoenix, Arizona in the '80s, then moved to Las Vegas, Nevada. From Las Vegas, I visited the London Bridge in Arizona. Not long after, I moved to England and crossed the London Bridge in London.
And the Westminster Bridge.
Fun times.
Brilliantly told story. I remember driving across the old London Bridge and seeing the new one under construction with my dad is his grey Ford Anglia. Must have been around 1967 when I would have been 7 years old. It was very exciting to a small boy as it was all over the news about the old bridge being sold to America. Maybe I should travel over to Arizona to see it again.
I live in Arizona and never new that London bridge is here! Thank you for the newest landmark to my list of places to see here
Are you kidding?
I was fortunate to have a vaycay to Las Vegas 10 years ago and we went down to Laughlin for 5 days at first ... A visit to the London Bridge was an amazing part of it ... This is a very well made informative video , so glad to have seen it ---- Thanks It's History !!
So glad it was saved! Never knew about this story but soon as I started hearing your video I thought this would be a success who wouldn't want to see London bridge its world famous historical bridge! Love how the lamp posts are Napoleans cannons!!😂 But my favourite bridge is the older one that had all the buildings built on top of the bridge!! Really love the look of that bridge!! Was imagining crossing the bridge when all the heads where on pikes & there was stalls & shops etc on the bridge must have been fantastic!!
Back in the late 90’s a vehicle went off the side into the channel and broke the banisters and stone railings. I was commissioned to paint a mural on the temporary plywood that spaced the open gap. I was also give a piece of a broken banister of which I donated to a now long gone attraction that existed in the English Village under the bridge.
Recently, a guy in my counseling class got a DUI for crashing into the bridge, causing $200,000 in damage.
Lived in Arizona all my life, *and I never knew we even had a London bridge here.*
💀
was very excited to see/cross it new about it since 80,s in 2010s lived in las vegas an got fience all hyped to do the road trip got my autistic son singing the song followed the mapquest directions but could not find it .turned out the little 3rd rate looking overpass thingy was it very disapointing family road trip
@@robertbrodie5183 sorry about that. Indeed the song was about the earlier London Bridge. The Rennie one was more functional, think really of the Noel Coward song "London Pride" as indeed it became associated with London and WW2 survival. Putney Bridge in London is of a similar design. A lot of the bridges had tolls for many years, the money went to the Corporation of London Bridge House Charity which provides Education grants to london kids. It might get mentioned in the Broadcast of the Lord Mayors show early in Nov if you can get a look at that.
its a pretty average bait and switch tourist trap of its day whole books on them crossed the country in 1970 with parents stoping at many of them revisted the "best snack bar by a damn site" in boulder city when i moved to vegas an roadside america pa was (IS?) a great place the homoginization of america due to airtravel and highways has had a cost
how ?
I do think it was pretty amazing that they could dismantle, and move the bridge to AZ. I saw it in 2000 when we visited Lake Havasu. Unfortunately we went there in August and they were having heat during the day that I had never experienced before. I seem to remember it being about 120f. To hot to be out doing anything during the day.
@Stephen Hornak
Yep, that's August in Arizona. For example, right now, October 5, the rest of the country is happily exchanging soup and stew recipes, and drinking hot spiced lattes, and we in Arizona are still sweating it out with a high of 97 here in Phoenix.
I am leaving this "surface of the sun" (one of Arizona's many heat-themed monikers) some time next year and cannot wait.
@@lisahinton9682 It hit 80 plus where I'm at in Illinois and over in STL today
@@lisahinton9682 I think I remember seeing that Phoenix averages over 90 days each summer over 100f. Too hot for my blood. I hope whenever you move too has better weather for you.
Having spent 5 years in Lake Havasu before the bridge I tell people the heat keeps the wimps inside.
hey I live in phoenix (a few hrs away) and can tell you that is the normal summer weather here
I enjoy this bridge and lake. Loved all the union jacks flying over and fish and chips served there during the summer.
What a great capture and save of History. The bridge looks great in Arizona, also. It's cool to hear how much homage to the first opening they paid during the bridge's second opening.
I went to Lake Havasu specifically to drive over the London bridge. I drove over a bridge but it had nice new pavement and it seemed uneventful so I kept looking for it , finally realizing I'd already been over it. So I went back to drive over it again and appreciated the lamp posts and the arches etc. It was a long drive from Long Beach just to drive over a bridge but I guess it was worth it. I actually like the Eiffel Tower in Las Vegas better......no, not really but it sure was fun riding a roller coaster around the Empire State Building.
I'm really surprised you weren't charged a toll for crossing the bridge, considering the investment that went into putting it there.
It’s a year round vacation spot there’s always something to do, firework conventions, hot air balloon conventions, boating.. etc
Great video. I remember visiting Lake Havasu and the London Bridge when I was just a kid in the early 1970's. Was great fun and the Engish village at one end of the bridge brought it all together. Made for a wonderful family vacation. And for the developer, it was genius to buy and move the bridge to his little town which has grown into a much sought after conventon town!
I remember watching a tv movie in the 80s, terror at london bridge, or something like that, where the bridge was moved to arizona and when the last stone was put in place it resurrected jack the ripper. Mass murders ensued..
Thats kinda cool actually 😂
I grew up in Lake Havasu and was an extra in that movie - Terror at London Bridge or Bridge Across Time. It starred David Hasselhoff and Stefanie Kramer. It was a cheesy NBC movie of the week.
@SusieQ-mn3qf lol nice
@@SusieQ-mn3qf Rifftrax should have a crack at it.
Born and raised in havasu since 1992. Always enjoy the history, turns this town in the middle of nowhere into something special ✨️ 😉
During a boat tour of the lake I pointed out to the guide some holes on the side of the bridge. I lived in London during the war and the holes were the result of a German fighter that strafed the tames near the bridge killing many including children. From memory it was in 1942. The RAF challenged the German to a dog fight but he was never heard from. It’s a great area to visit in Arizona..
just been looking this up. i can't see an after action report for 1942 that fits. but there is one in 1943 a 'wild cat' raid. but the bridge didn't get hit. the strafing seems to have been directed at the riverside. the damage everyone seems to be referring to is from a 250 sd in 1941. the report said it was a JU88. but i would definitely take that with a big pinch of salt. most air raid wardens couldn't tell the difference or see what was going on.
My best friends dad was the site supervisor on the London Bridge. She and I went with Her dad several times while the bridge was being built. What a memory
Lies
That was a fantastic video! I'm from Tucson, Arizona and I remember going to lake Havasu with my parents as a kid when my dad told me that was the London bridge. And explain to me that each piece was marked and sent over a piece by piece. Always astonished me as a kid! I've wanted to hear that story for a long time and I always thought that that bridge was the bridge that the song was about. So I appreciate the update and information. I also had no idea about The Bridges History in the London bombing nor about the lamppost from the Battle of Waterloo. All super fascinating and very cool!
In 1999 I drove 320 miles with a few dollars to spare and lived in my car trying to get a job helping to move the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. I was successful and would do it again if needed. There are so many great people I met from all over the country who loved their particular job whether it be testing the concrete and cement to people who specialized in soil which was completely different from the original site. On top of all of these people from all over was the effect on the local economy as thousands of people came to witness a lighthouse moving down what was essentially a railroad track. Just keeping track of the plinth stones which numbered in the tens with reassembly was a job in itself so I can't imagine a whole bridge as just a little off on one pier or piers settling at different rates could have been catastrophic. Anyways this comment is turning into a book and this was a job I'd have driven cross country to be a part of just for the people and the education of people that love what they do.
*old mills, not kills.
Damn predictive text
We live about an hour away from Lake Havasu and been on the bridge many times. We took a boat ride under the bridge and you can see the bullet markings on the bridge from WW2. It is facinating to look at and think of the history there.
I love that he was able to preserve this history
I can remember it being taken apart, each had a part no. Wonderful combination of British and American eccentricity.
"Hey, I got a bridge for sale."
Riiiiiight, where have we heard that one before!?
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
At least its in a nice vacation spot and not destroyed.
Having a house on the bridge back in those days came with it's own toilet and sewer system! 😂
And all the water you could drink.
I remember going to California from Denver Colorado where we lived for a vacation and stopping by Lake Havasu. They just completed assembling the bridge but they had yet to flood the water underneath of it. I’ve got photos of the stones on the bridge with the individual numbers on them so they could reassemble it. I was 10 years old at the time I still remember it well.
I've been on it in Arizona. I use to have a piece of granite that had a label on it stating that is was a part of the London Bridge. Don't know how true that was though. Gave it to an English friend.
ya that seems to be a scam that happens in all tourist traps
Great video! I grew up in Lake Havasu City, and my grandma use to work closely with McCullough. The London Bridge is a nostalgic icon to me because of the memories I have of it.
I'm old enough to remember when the news media (back when it was news, not entertainment) reported that Dave McCullough had the London Bridge taken and rebuilt in Lake Havasu City
Robert P McCulloch
Wow, what other amazing memories do you have? Please do tell…..
Excellent story. I live in California and totally remember when the bridge opened.
I must have travelled over London Bridge when it was still fully in situ. When the new one was being cast in place and the one here being taken down it was a right pain driving over effectively temporary bridge and lane closures, normally I travelled at the weekend , in hindsight trying to find Southwark Bridge and cutting over that would have been quicker !
Jay Foreman also did an excellent video showcasing the history of this bridge.
Definitely worth watching for some context on this 2nd incarnation of London Bridge.
Robert McCulloch was a descendant of John Beggs. Beggs was heavily involved in both mass transit and the electric power industry in Southeastern Wisconsin as well as in some of the support industries located in the St. Louis area. The family had a mansion on Beggs Island in Lac La Belle, near Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. I have wondered if that family island setting may have influenced Robert McCulloch’s plans for Lake Havasu.
Been there a couple times since moving to AZ. Its definitely interesting to walk over, and kayak under. The restaurant underneath is good too, Burgers by the Bridge.
Never wondered why it was brought over but I worked on the project to put it back together and also on his Castle got to learn a lot about stone work
I literally walked and drove right on this bridge a couple months ago while Visiting lake havasu I literally never heard of lake havasu before my trip there but now I keep hearing about it since I got back weird
I live 10 minutes from it, I’m so glad someone finally gave a good explanation to its history
Thank you for the history lesson about the bridge, really enjoyed learning the back story. As someone who spent his teenage years living in San Diego County in the late '60s-mid-70s, I can remember reading about the project to bring the bridge and its grand opening. After the failure of the resorts around the Salton Sea, I had wondered if Lake Havasu might not go the same way. Of course, fresh water makes all of the difference. Thanks again, I had little knowledge about the London Bridge.
Kudos Ryan !
Very well done as usual.
From Pittsburgh, PA
I have been across this bridge in London and Arizona!!!
My wife and I spend much for honeymoon at lake Havasu. We got to see the London bridge and it was really cool.
I remember seeing the London Bridge when it was just a pile of big old blocks surrounded by desert and earth-movers in Lake Havasu - before the lake was constructed. Not too impressive at the time.
Lake Havasu was made long before the London Bridge came to Lake Havasu City.
@@HavasuTyson Thank you for jogging my memory. I was just a kid.
I lived in the FHA Track homes less than a mile from where they stored the bridge stones.
born and raised in az and drove 5 hours to see it
it’s an iconic place truly and it’s cool to see foreign antique history here
This story still amazes me, every time I hear about it.
I love this channel, there are so many cool things I never knew about!
My partner's uncle was one of the guys involved in selling it to America. It needed replacing badly, my dad could remember the horse drawn traffic jams on the bridge. There's an apocryphal story about the people buying it thought they were getting Tower Bridge.
It's the lowest bridging point, almost a ford.
Ever visited?
Excellent show Ryan, as the saying goes "I have a bridge to sell you." you prove it to be true...lol
I’ve been there and have walked around and under the bridge. It’s beautiful.
Went there in 2000, it was 106° that day, oddly enough, it was the beginning of October. My grandpa loved there til he passed away.
Was that just a Freudian slip on your part, or was he a rascal with the ladies?
@@campkohler9131 I'm not fixing it! He did love living there lol
We took family trip spring break back late 90s. MTV was on island trash condoms beer cans ect floating in water kite store was cool no $ lol I was 13 or 14 years old.
105*-115* that week !! Dry with Breese blowing all week :) . So coming from humid Ozarks it was great .
You're lucky that in October, it's already cooling off lol
@@cchavezjr7 it was in the 40s where I live, so just a 60° difference. I wasn't complaining!
Looking at the aerial view on Google Maps, I wonder why there are so many unoccupied roads on Pittsburgh Point? The mainland area of the city is quite large, but the point is largely empty.
14:10 Americans can carry out the most complex construction project like like moving a famous monument to another continent only to later surround said monument with the most awful urban enviroment and a sea of asphalt.
Good day. So. I got some bridge trivia. The remainder of the stone and chain (Havasu gap is narrower than the original location) were purchased by a gentleman and used to build a restaurant in Spring Creek NV. Not sure what they call it now but when I worked there it was known as The Stageline Co. LLC nestled between I80 and the Ruby Mountains just south of Elko NV.
💥 The MOST interesting Financial Fact about the London Bridge project is that McCulloch and Wood actually made a huge PROFIT on this entire deal!! The bridge that you see in Arizona is only the exterior shell granite of the original bridge from London. You see in this video that when the bridge was rebuilt, they created an interior concrete core and rebuilt the exterior facade granite only. McCulloch then Sold the remainder of the granite stone to cemeterys for grave headstones and also the small granite memorabilia 'Pieces of the London Bridge' to many tourists, thereby making more money in the total bridge project than the total price he paid! You need to consider the Genius involved in the Highest Priced Antique purchase in History and you still make a profit on that Deal! And that is only the money they made on the Bridge, BEFORE the fortune McCulloch made on selling all the Real Estate of his new tourist destination, Lake Havasu City! You are all learning about one of the greatest modern stories of the creation of a new American city! And the Londoners who believed that gossip story about buying the Tower Bridge have No Clue about what a Great success this crazy dream has become!! McCulloch and Wood were brilliant visionaries!! 😂
When I moved to London in 2005 and stayed through 2007, someone over there told me that they moved the "original" bridge to Arizona. Now, who in their right mind would believe that? But, I looked it up and was shocked that this happened. Interesting and seemingly impossible. That said, I'm glad it worked out.
I like how the Roman bridge lasted the longest but I suppose it didn't have to deal with cars and trucks and the blitz. London is very old so the bridge may be haunted London is allegedly particularly the underground which has a long some what grim history
Keep in mind they (scoffers) called the purchase of Alaska, "Seward's Folly as well.
London Bridge is moving down, moving down, moving down
London Bridge is moving down
Down to Arizona
YAY Ryan! 👍👌 Great video. Interesting topic, well presented…keep up the good work! 😊👌👍🤙✌️
The nursery rhyme actually refers to “Old” London Bridge, which stood for about 6 centuries and was replaced by the bridge currently in AZ in the 18th century.
I stood on that bridge in 1999. It was 113 degrees that day.
I've always found this whole thing really neat
Stylish resorts in Lake Havasu??? That’s the overstatement of the year
Excellent story!! Thanks man! 🖖👁️👍✌️👌👀🌞
Fascinating and well done story! Thank you!
I was there when it opened. Simply amazing. What an awesome community surrounds it also.
I remember that the dedication of the bridge took place on my tenth birthday on 10/10/1971
Thanks for this story!
No. This is not "the original London Bridge", nor the London Bridge from the nursery rhyme. That was Old London Bridge. The one in Arizona is merely a Victorian bridge.
Plus, I think the guy thought he was buying Tower Bridge!
@@pjdunnit6753 This rumour is fake.
I moved to Havasu 5 years ago from Oregon. The bridge is a fabulous center piece and a great attraction. I only wish I had discovered this beautiful oasis 40 years ago. I would have vacationed here with my kids and bought a summer house. This is a great community that is conservative, safe and very family oriented. BTW, McCullough made thousands of dollars selling excess Granite to stone masons and headstone carvers all over America. The man and his partner, Mr. Wood were absolute American geniuses capable of anything they could imagine. They were part of the Greatest American Generation. Great Video , thank you.
I have a small piece of the London Bridge that I bought as a souvenir in one of the shops.
@@amazingredkitty3605 There are actually large hunks of Granite blocks that were unused placed around the city. They used them as decorative items in parking strips and traffic islands. Some still have the original blacktop pavement on them! My best friend is from London and he loves walking across the bridge, remembering crossing with his Mum in the old days. Cheers!
At 14:05 "expodentialy" s/b exponentially, but otherwise it's a good episode. Left out was how all the utilities for the area were provided once it had become an island. After all, they had to "cross the Thames" just like the bridge did.
I have been here several times & I live in NJ. Super interesting. You can see that many if the blocks still have numbers on them.
Please do an episode on Arcosanti. The experimental desert community that helped inspire some of star wars!
I recently watched a video about Arcosanti, but I don’t remember them mentioning Star Wars. Was it the architectural elements that inspired parts of Star Wars?
WHAAAT!?!? I had zero clue about this. THIS IS GOING TO BE A GOOD UPLOAD!!
I absolutely did NOT know that the London Bridge had been moved to Arizona! What a story! 😮😊❤
Good Story.. There is more information on it if you dig into it. I was there when it was put up and I was 11 during the opening celebration. I have the original pamphlets and newspaper clippings along with photos.
Haha this is mental, luv it, can't believe I never knew this 🤯 everyday is a school day!
Theres a tower in midtown thats a twin of one built in Birmingham i think. And the land it was built on was landfill from ww2 from london.
This is great I never heard of this before it is now on my list of want to see.
I worked in Lake Havasu in 1967 before the bridge was put in. Just out of high school, I worked at the airport on the pennisula serviceing the Lockheed Constalation passenger planes that were used by McCullock to bring people from Los Angeles to sell housing lots. The alterial motive is to get a population that would work in his manufacturing plant. I used my proceeds to earn my private pilot's license. Pulling weeds on the gravel cross runway was certainly a hot job during the summer months. I visited lately and it has certainly grown up and is certainly more refined and expensive place to live or visit.
My Old Man used to work for Holly Development and would meet those Connies out there by old Site Six. Those three old Connies sat out there for a long time. I remember them too. Beautiful planes.
Thank you! I have wondered about that a time or two.
I've been under London Bridge in a speedboat. It's the closest I've ever been to London.
I completely forgot the London bridge is in Arizona. I remember learning about it as a kid but completely forgot about it. Its an amazing piece of engineering but its even more amazing how they took it apart transported it and put it back together. 😮
I'm live in AZ, it's so random that it's in lake Havasu city. Most Arizonans have never even seen it.
I happened across this story and my Grandfather was one of the mason's working on the project. Pretty Cool!
Lake Havasu is a great place to visit.
As a non-american, I was surprised I knew that, Intersting story!
Very well done video as always.
I always wondered about this. Thanks for the info!