 On Friday, July 25, 1930, the Colfax-Foresthill Bridge collapsed into the North Fork of the American River.
According to the July 31,1930, Auburn Journal: “The 250 foot bridge which spans the north fork of the American River on the county road from Colfax to Foresthill dropped into the river last Friday afternoon. Lucky for the county, no vehicle was on the bridge at the time it collapsed. The bridge evidently broke first from the Foresthill side and within a few seconds the entire bridge was a mass of ruins in the river canyon many feet below.”
In 1906, Placer County purchased the bridge for $7,000. By the early 1920s, Placer County engineers began warning that the bridge needed to be replaced. The Aug. 2, 1930, Placer Herald noted that District 5 Supervisor Matt Langstaff was one of the last to safely pass over the bridge before it collapsed.
Estimates for replacing the bridge ranged from $15,000 to $20,000. The county opened the project for bids Aug. 9, 1930, and specified the new bridge was to be a steel suspension bridge. It was announced in the Dec. 20, 1930, Placer Herald that the new bridge was completed and open to the public.
Today, the bridge, now known as the Yankee Jims Bridge, can no longer support modern vehicles. On May 19, 2025, Placer County began a three-year project to build a new two-lane arch suspension bridge downstream and to preserve the historic Yankee Jims Bridge as a pedestrian bridge.
Photo: The Yankee Jims Bridge, c. 2025 (photo courtesy of the Placer County Public Information Office)
 Whether it’s representing your community or sharing your expertise on topics like agriculture or parks, there are always opportunities for you to help advise county leaders on the issues that matter to you most. Recruitment is open now to fill seats on the following committees or commissions, among others. Learn more and apply
Current recruitments include:
 Don’t miss the fun coming this next week in...
Roseville: Chalk Your Walk
Rocklin: Memorial Park Playground Grand Opening Memorial Park, Toddler Time, Preschool Storytime, Toddler Time, Baby Lapsit
Lincoln: Back to School Bash, Virtual Grammar Club, Family Storytime
Loomis: Preschool Storytime, Lend a Heart, Lend a Hand, Read to a Dog!, Magic For Muggles: Harry Potter Trivia
Auburn: Parks & Big Trucks, Silly Art Challenge at the Auburn Library, Placer Grown Farmer's Market
Colfax: Colfax Summer Festival, Colfax Farmers Market
North Lake Tahoe: Concerts at Commons Beach: Poor Man’s Whiskey, Level Up That Painting for Teens at the Kings Beach Library, Music on the Beach - Kings Beach, Truckee Farmer's Market- Tuesdays, Bluesdays Concert Series at Palisades Tahoe, First Street Yoga at Palisades Tahoe, Music in the Park, Truckee, Sunsets Live Music Series at Palisades, Summer Music Series- Northstar, Movies on the Beach
...and many Placer County Library and Placer County Museum events.
Visit our regional partners to discover more of the fun happening right here in Placer County!
Placer County Visitors' Bureau
North Tahoe Community Alliance
Tahoe City Downtown Association
The Arts Council of Placer County
Placer Valley Tourism
PlacerGROWN
Placer Wine Trail
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