How Many Crossed Pistols Decorate the I-10 Bridge?

Lake Charles, LA [KNGT-FM] - For decades, drivers crossing the Calcasieu River on Interstate 10 have passed one of Lake Charles' most recognizable landmarks without giving it much thought. Lining both sides of the bridge are thousands of decorative cast-iron pistols built into the guardrails, but few people know exactly how many are there.

The original design of the bridge featured an impressive 5,286 pairs of crossed cast-iron pistols lining its guardrails from end to end. While some of those decorative pistols have disappeared over the years due to hurricane damage, age, or even theft, that was the official number installed when the bridge first opened in 1952.

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The unique ironwork has become an iconic symbol of the bridge. It is widely believed to honor the legend of Jean Lafitte and the pirates who were said to have traveled through Southwest Louisiana during the early 1800s. The distinctive design has made the bridge instantly recognizable to generations of residents and visitors.

Officially named the Louisiana Memorial World War II Bridge, the structure was given its name in June 1951, before opening to traffic in 1952. Today, it remains one of the busiest transportation corridors in the state, carrying an estimated 90,000 vehicles every day across the Calcasieu River.

Long before Interstate 10 connected the Gulf Coast, travelers relied on U.S. Highway 90 and crossed the river using a drawbridge near the Port of Lake Charles along Shell Beach Drive.

I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge, Lake Charles, La. — Scott Lewis

Constructed during the administration of Governor Earl K. Long, the bridge eventually became a vital link on Interstate 10, the highway stretching from Florida to California. As traffic continued to grow, Louisiana added the I-210 bypass in the 1960s to help ease congestion around Lake Charles.

With construction underway on a replacement span, the famous bridge and its thousands of crossed pistols remain one of Southwest Louisiana's most recognizable landmarks and an enduring piece of the region's history.

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Gallery Credit: Mike Soileau