In the fall of 1892, a wooden footbridge across the Sheyenne, originally a single plank with handrails, linked the Normal School (BA1) to the city. Because there were no dormitories on campus at the time and most students lived on the other side of the river, a bridge was a necessity. However, the bridge was frequently damaged by ice flows that impeded the river, causing inconvenience and expensive repairs. The current bridge is an ornate three-span, one-hundred-and-fifty-foot-long suspension bridge, the only one of its kind in North Dakota. This iconic bridge has long been a popular gathering place for generations of Valley City residents and college alumni.