One of the two bridges crossing from South Austin into downtown Austin was the Congress Bridge. Congress because Congress Blvd. crosses over it. The Republic of Texas had a congress before it had a state capital.
The bridge was renamed a few years ago because Representative Ann Richards, when running for governor of Texas, often ended her speeches with the words "Come January 1st of next year, we will walk across the Congress Bridge and reclaim the Legislature and Governor's Manson for the people of Texas". Whenever I hear about the people protesting, occupying and being arrested on the Brooklyn Bridge (soon to be renamed the Tom Pall Bridge since I bought it last month from Mark Landau along with a pair of sandals to wear while I walk across my bridge), I think of St. Ann. She was quite a lady. Here's Texas Monthly, which featured St. Ann on one of her Harley Davidson motorcycles. Her most striking picture had here riding her shocking pink Harley Davidson, wearing her leathers. A woman dressed in leather, riding a Harley, trailer trash hair do, even Barry could get a rise from that image. Texas is a most amazing nation, despite what the press says about it now. Only in Texas would George W. Bush, then governor of Texas, get a summons for jury duty and show up. The governor was dismissed, as this was for criminal court and the governor has some small involvement in pardoning criminals. Only in Texas, would the people of Austin remember LBJ driving into town in his pajamas to pick up beer, as it wasn't available where he lived. Perhaps we'll all march across the Tom Pall Bridge and take back lower Manhattan for the people come January 1, 2012. http://www.texasmonthly.com/1992-07-01
