McCulloch was a wealthy American entrepreneur. He owned chainsaw companies, outboard motors, and a whole lot of ambition. He also owned a patch of desert in Arizona called Lake Havasu City. And he had a vision.
He thought, “You know what this desert needs? A bridge. A very old, very British bridge that doesn’t cross any water.” Honestly, can you picture that? A guy in a business suit squinting at a map of rocks and cacti, thinking, “Perfect spot for a famous London landmark.” That takes guts. Or maybe it takes too much sun.
The Deal Goes Down
So McCulloch bought London Bridge for $2,460,000. But here’s the fun part: rumor has it he thought he was buying Tower Bridge. You know, the one with the blue and gold towers that actually looks iconic. Nope. He got the plain, stone, “I’m just a road across a river” bridge. Classic mix-up. Ouch.
Did he care? Not one bit. He spent another $7 million shipping the 10,000 granite blocks across the Atlantic. They were numbered like a giant, ancient Lego set. Imagine the shipping manifest: “One bridge. Extra careful. Some gravel included.”
Did You Know... U.S. Customs Declaration Made London Bridge the World's
