The Original London Bridge relocated to nearby Route 66

THE ORIGINAL LONDON BRIDGE RELOCATED TO NEARBY ROUTE 66

Lake Havasu, Arizona
(near Williams, AZ)

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Robert McCulloch during reconstruction of bridge in Arizona

JAN KASSIES (Lake Havasu Visitors Center)

• Jan’s background and relocation along Route 66 from Netherlands
• Roman Period (AD 50)
  • King Olaf knocks down London Bridge
  • Famous London Bridge song
  • Reference to My Fair Lady
• Old London Bridge (1209 – 1831)
  • 19 arches
  • Home to several hundred residents and shops
  • Origin of British driving on the other side of the street
  • Releasing waste into the Thames River
  • Display of beheaded criminals on the bridge
  • Eventual demise of bridge structureNew London Bridge (1831 – 1967)
    • 5 granite arches
    • streetlights melted from Battle of Waterlo
    • Integrity of bridge – listed for sale
    • Interested buyers

1969 Reconstruction

• Robert McCulloch
  • Upbringing and background
  • Early business interests
  • Millionaire by age 30
  • Business entrepreneur
  • Land developer
  • Vision of Lake Havasu
• Dismantling The London Bridge
  • Partial relocation of original bridge with 10,000 original blocks
  • Lake Havasu bridge reconstructed over land
  • Diverting water under the bridge
  • Where to find blocks with original numbers written on blocks
• Did McCulloch buy the wrong bridge?
• If The London Bridge could talk: A Historical Perspective
  • WW II story featuring a US solder
  • Bullet holes from German attack
• Opening Day
  • 30,000 attended
  • Lord Mayor of London
  • TV Special
• CV Wood (Disneyland developer)
  • The English Village
• Route 66 travelers
  • Kingman, AZ to Lake Havasu
• Celebrating 50 years of London Bridge
• McCulloch Business entities today
• Visiting Lake Havasu
  • Visitors Center Walking Tour
  • Annual balloon festival
  • Outdoor activities
  • www.GoLakeHavasu.com
  • Lighthouse Display

MICHAEL McCULLOCH (Grandson of Robert McCulloch)

• Describing his grandfather in just one word
• Academia: Princeton & Stanford
• The vision of Robert McCulloch
• Learning at 9 years old that grandfather purchased The London Bridge
• Early perception of Robert McCulloch purchasing London Bridge
• Remembering Grandmother McCulloch (Barbara Ann Briggs)
• Robert McCulloch’s typical dress attire
• Fondest memories of Robert McCulloch
• Internal structure of the bridge
• Memorable Robert McCulloch traditions

EPISODE LINKS

BBC Documentary Promotional Clip (45 seconds)

BBC Documentary (8 minutes)

Archival Footage of London Bridge Opening Celebration (1971)

Website: Lake Havasu Visitors Center

ROUTE 66 TELEVISION SERIES

Thank you to Route 66 Podcast & Scholarship supporters!

• MidPoint Cafe, Adrian, TX – Featuring both their Ugly Crust Pie and one of the most popular photo ops along Route 66, located exactly halfway between Chicago and Santa Monica in Adrian, Texas.
• Gilligan’s Route 66 Tours featuring tours of Route 66 in Ford Mustang convertibles, stays at historic Route 66 motels, and daily breakfast.
• Jack Rabbit Trading Post, Joseph City, AZ – Probably one of the most iconic curio shops along Route 66, the famous Here It Is billboard and fiberglass jackrabbit in front of the store is reason enough to stop…. and say hello to Cindy and Antonio.

• Jon B – Rhode Island
• Mary Beth Busutil – Florida
• Jim Crabtree – California
• Mike Fort 
• Route 66 author and photographer – Shellee Graham and also my guest on   Episode # 10 where she talks about her book, Tales from the Coral Court Motel.
• Kristin Haakenson – Washington  
• Rich Havlik – Minnesota
• Mary Nicholson – Pennsylvania
• Wendy Raschke – Texas
• Brian Sawyer – Indiana
• Evan Stern – New York

United Kingdom

• Charli Beeton

The Netherlands

• Jim Rensen

Please consider supporting both The Route 66 Podcast and Scholarship Program through Patreon.   Patreon members receive access to an additional 10 minutes of this episode, featuring the following content:

• McCulloch Chain Saws today
• Additional sights and activities in Lake Havasu