McKean, Kinzua Bridge
This wasn’t “just a bridge”, so we will abridge (!) the Wikipedia entry somewhat to give you the basic story: “The Kinzua Bridge was a railroad trestle that spanned Kinzua Creek. The bridge was 301 feet (92 m) tall and 2,052 feet (625 m) long. Most of its structure collapsed during a tornado in July 2003. Billed as the “Eighth Wonder of the World”, the wrought iron original 1882 structure held the record for the tallest railroad bridge in the world for two years. In 1900, the bridge was dismantled and simultaneously rebuilt out of steel to allow it to accommodate heavier trains. It stayed in commercial service until 1959, when it was sold to a salvage company. In 1963 Pennsylvania purchased the bridge as the centerpiece of a state park. Restoration began in 2002, but before it was finished a tornado struck the bridge, causing a large portion to collapse. Before its collapse, the Kinzua Bridge was ranked as the fourth-tallest railway bridge in the United States.” The postcard’s caption suggests it was printed before the tornado, but the card has four stamps and was mailed in 2024. Grade: 1