A historical society celebrated efforts to preserve the Bellaire stone viaduct Saturday.

The Great Stone Viaduct Education Society hosted its first celebration with hundreds of people at the Bellaire Library to learn about the railroad bridge.

Speakers from across the country gathered to share expert advice on preserving historic structures. The last train ran on the bridge in 1996, and visitors shared their thoughts with the community about the historic project.

"It's important as one of the early and most important pathways we had between the East and the West," said John Hankey, a speaker at the event. "The B & O and the Central Ohio railroads were one of the earliest trunk lines and helped waves of immigrants move West."

Vendors and other exhibitors sold T-shirts celebrating the bridge. It became a historic marker four years ago.