Why Lansing’s “Big Penny” Bridge Just Earned Cultural Landmark Status

The good old Big Penny in Lansing. She's an infamous bridge that makes national headlines, because she just can't get enough of those trucks and R.V.s. She's been munching for years, and I'd include the current munch number, but I'd be afraid it has changed since this was posted.

On top of her notorious bad habit of munching bridges, she also just got national recognition for another reason. Who say's press can be a bad thing, especially when you get a title surrounding your name.

Big Penny just got recognized as a Cultural Landmark.

What exactly qualifies for a cultural landmark, though? We're glad you asked.

A cultural landmark is a place, structure, or object that holds significant meaning within a community's history, traditions, or identity.

Key qualifiers for a cultural landmark are:

• Historical Importance
• Cultural Identity
• Architectural or Artistic Significance
• Community Connection
• Recognized Statuestoric

There are a few reasons that the bridge got its title as a cultural landmark, one of which is the history, humor, and community pride surrounding the bridge. It's a piece of Lansing folklore that frequently gets brought up. Whether it be in the news or just because it was a good laugh, that another truck got munched.

There have been talks about looking to increase the height of the bridge over the years; however, because of its location, it wouldn't be an easy task. Plus, for clarification. The state has taken many steps to avoid accidents from happening; however, it doesn't seem to stop people from getting munched.