JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Going through Downtown Jacksonville now, it's hard to imagine a time when the only way to cross the river was by ferry.
It was 100 years ago that Jacksonville’s first bridge opened, the Acosta Bridge. But it wasn't always named that and what's with the connection to an elephant at the zoo?
Let's explore, here are five fast facts about the Acosta Bridge.
1) Acosta Bridge wasn't always its name
It was the first bridge in Jacksonville to cross the St. Johns River, so it was simply named the St. Johns River Bridge. It would later be named in 1949 for St. Elmo "Chic" Acosta, the Jacksonville city commissioner who help push the project forward.
2) It was called the "Yellow Monster"
The tolled draw bridge was originally a yellow color and had a tendency to get stuck in the up position and the "Yellow Monster" nickname was born.
3) The elephant connection
St. Elmo "Chic" Acosta may be known for the Acosta Bridge now, but he was involved in several projects in Jacksonville in the 1920's. "He was also known for getting Jacksonville and one of the first municipalities in the nation an elephant," told Emily Lisska with the Jacksonville Historical Society when interviewed about "Chic" Acosta in 2017. The elephant would be named Miss Chic and lived at the Jacksonville Zoo for 40 years.
4) The bridge was renamed
After Acosta's death, State Senator John Mathews made the push through the Florida Legislature to rename the bridge and Governor Fuller Warren did the renaming in 1949. As drivers know now, both would eventually have downtown bridges named after them as well.
5) It's been replaced
The original bridge was replaced in the early 1990's with the more sleek and modern structure drivers use today. It also carries the Skyway monorail track across the river
