This episode recounts the tragic collapse of the Gasconade River bridge in 1855, a disaster that shifted the trajectory of American expansion and sealed Chicago’s rise over St. Louis. Monsignor and Teresa detail the Pacific Railroad’s ambitions, the corruption behind its construction, and the fatal consequences of rushing progress. The catastrophe killed dozens of prominent citizens and shattered public confidence, while Chicago’s successful rail link positioned it as the gateway to the West. The episode reflects on how infrastructure, politics, and geography shaped the fate of cities—and the nation.


*Saint Louis: The Story of Catholic Evangelization of America's Heartland originally aired on Covenant Network Catholic Radio. These podcast episodes are being released in anticipation of the Bicentennial Celebrations of the founding of the Archdiocese of St. Louis as the Diocese of St. Louis on July 18, 1826.

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