La Crosse Rail Bridge is a swing bridge that spans the Mississippi River between La Crescent, Minnesota and La Crosse, Wisconsin. The original bridge was one of the first 15 bridges across the Mississippi River. It was designed and built in 1876 by Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad. Lincoln won the case for the railroad, arguing that a person has a much right to build a bridge to cross a river as another person has to travel up and down the water. This victory led to the construction of even more swing bridges, including the L4B.