The Camera Corner, Inc.

05/30/2026

05/29/2026

Photo and Editing Classes Return June 2nd! Ready to learn more about your camera or improve your editing skills?
Our personalized one-on-one classes are designed around what you want to learn, at your own pace.

Call to sign up for classes held Tuesday through Friday.
• First class begins at 10:30 A.M.
• Last class starts at 3:00 P.M.
• Thursdays: Last class starts at 1:30 P.M.

Whether you're just getting started or looking to sharpen your skills, we’re here to help make learning fun and easy!

05/25/2026

“The Government Bridge: Why the Quad Cities’ Famous Swing Bridge Matters More Than You Think”

www.whatsgoingonqc.com

Most people in the Quad Cities know the Government Bridge as the bridge that connects Davenport to Arsenal Island. Some know it as the bridge with railroad tracks on top and vehicle traffic underneath. Others know it as the one that can swing open for river traffic.

But the history behind that crossing is much bigger than many people realize.

The Government Bridge is a double-deck swing bridge, meaning it carries trains on the upper level and vehicles below, while its movable span pivots open to allow boats and barges to pass through on the Mississippi River. The current bridge was completed in 1896, but the location itself is tied to one of the most important transportation stories in American history.

Near this same crossing, the first railroad bridge ever built across the Mississippi River opened in 1856, connecting Rock Island, Illinois, with Davenport, Iowa. At the time, that was a massive achievement. The Mississippi had long been a powerful barrier between east and west, and the arrival of a railroad bridge helped change how people, goods, and commerce moved across the country.

The bridge quickly became controversial. Steamboat operators feared railroad bridges would interfere with river traffic and threaten their business. Not long after the first bridge opened, the steamboat Effie Afton struck the bridge, caught fire, and sank. The legal fight that followed became famous partly because Abraham Lincoln helped defend the railroad’s right to bridge the river.

That Lincoln connection is fascinating, but the real story is even larger. This crossing represented a turning point between two eras: the age of steamboats dominating river commerce and the rise of railroads pushing America westward.

The Government Bridge we see today is not the original 1856 bridge, but it stands in the same historic corridor and carries that legacy forward. Its steel structure, double-deck design, railroad tracks, roadway, and swing span make it one of the most unique bridges on the Mississippi.

For many Quad Citians, it’s just part of the background…something we drive across, pass by, or see from the riverfront. But every time that swing span opens or a train rolls across the top, it’s a reminder that this bridge is more than a way across the river.

It is a working piece of Quad Cities history, tied to Arsenal Island, the Mississippi River, Abraham Lincoln, the rise of the railroad, and the moment America began crossing west in a whole new way.

05/25/2026

Memorial Day symbolizes gratitude, sacrifice, patriotism, and freedom. While many people gather with family and friends for the holiday weekend, the deeper meaning is to remember those who gave their lives in military service.

05/25/2026

I love this picture. I took this picture in the Quad Cities ❤️🇺🇸

05/18/2026

Follow the link : https://thecameracorner.com/used-camera-equipment

05/14/2026

Sony has a new king of the heap, Sony A7 r VI, the most megapixels and fast focusing to date. Story link in the comments. Preorder..

05/14/2026

Along with Sony's new camera the A7r VI, comes a new G Master lens that looks very interesting! FE 100-400mm F4.5 GM OSS: An advanced 100-400mm super-telephoto zoom lens NewModel: SEL100400MC , new video in the comments!

05/14/2026

India’s Tiger Reserves Are Banning Smartphone Photography, Article in the comments.