Completed in 1874, the Eads Bridge was the first bridge across the Mississippi River in St. Louis. Many were leery of the steel James Eads used to construct the bridge as it was a new material at the time. "History Spotlight" is a collaboration between the Missouri Historical Society and the Higher Education Channel TV (HEC-TV) to highlight the people, places, and events that have helped shape St. Louis's rich past. | Missouri History Museum