Belle Isle Bridge (old) - Fire photos
Belle Isle Bridge (old)

The Belle Isle Bridge burns April 27, 1915.

The aftermath of the fire that destroyed the first Belle Isle Bridge in 1915

The aftermath of the April 27, 1915, fire that destroyed the first Belle Isle Bridge

Smoldering piers from the first Belle Isle bridge

The ruins of the first Belle Isle Bridge, still smoldering from the fire

Firefighters tried everything to save the bridge, including commandeering ferries.

Firefighters tried to douse the creosote blocks, but they kept reigniting.

The Detroit Boat Club peeks out from behind the smoldering ruins of the bridge


The remains of the bridge's pylons were left standing in the Detroit River until at least 1921.