Uncredited photos on this page taken by: Nathan Holth. Unless stated in a caption, all photos are Copyright with All Rights Reserved. Learn about reuse of our photos.
Elevation from southwest quadrant.
Panoramic elevation from southwest quadrant.
Distant panoramic elevation from southwest quadrant.
Elevation from southwest quadrant looking toward Lincoln Memorial.
Views beside bridge from southwest quadrant.
Distant portal view facing east.
Portal views facing west.
Views beside bridge from southeast quadrant.
Views beside bridge from northeast quadrant.
Elevation from southeast quadrant.
South elevation from boat.
South elevation comparing bascule span to adjacent concrete arch spans as seen from boat.
Views beside bridge from southeast quadrant as seen from boat.
Elevation from southeast quadrant as seen from boat.
Views of bascule span from northeast quadrant, as seen from boat.
Views beside bridge from northeast quadrant as seen from boat.
South elevation of bascule span as seen from boat.
Views of bascule span from southeast quadrant, as seen from boat.
Bascule span elevation from southwest quadrant.
Concrete arch span elevation from southwest quadrant.
Elevation from southwest quadrant comparing bascule span to adjacent concrete arch spans.
Views beside bridge from southwest quadrant showing bascule span.
Views of bascule span from southeast quadrant.
Views of bascule span from northeast quadrant.
Distant view toward Arlington Memorial Cemetery from bridge.
Photo Source: Library of Congress
Historical photos of bascule span in raised position.
Photo Source: Library of Congress
Historical photos of bascule span in lowered position.
Photo Source: Library of Congress
Historical photos of bascule span construction.
Photo Source: Library of Congress
Historical photos of arch span construction.
Photo Source: Library of Congress
Historical photo of bascule span machinery.
Photo Credit: Historic American Engineering Record
View of bascule span trusses and bracing.
Photo Credit: Historic American Engineering Record
Views of bascule span.
Photo Credit: Historic American Engineering Record
Machinery room interior of bascule span.
Photo Credit: Historic American Engineering Record
Views of bascule span counterweight tail put where the curved operating rack is clearly visible.
Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway overpass as seen from Memorial Bridge.
South elevation of Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway overpass.
Elevation of George Washington Memorial Parkway overpass span as seen from southeast quadrant around that span.
View beside George Washington Memorial Parkway overpass span as seen from southeast quadrant around that span.
Elevation of George Washington Memorial Parkway overpass span as seen from southwest quadrant around that span.
George Washington Memorial Parkway overpass span details.
George Washington Memorial Parkway overpass railing.
George Washington Memorial Parkway overpass pier.
Views under George Washington Memorial Parkway overpass.
West abutment pillar.
View looking east toward west abutment pillars.
Statues at east end of bridge. They are not original to the bridge, and were a gift from Italy in 1950.
Plaque on statues at east end of bridge.
Bascule Span Details
Partial view showing pier sculpture and part of the bascule leaf.
View of crown sculpture.
Pier.
Pier sculpture.
Pier detail.
Details of decorative cladding.
View under bridge showing machinery building under bascule span.
View under bridge where the leaf enters the machinery building and tail pit.
Views under bridge showing the supporting trusses behind the decorative cladding. Note the riveted, built-up steel with lattice. All of this is lost with the demolition and replacement project.
Views under bridge showing the lateral bracing system. Note the riveted, built-up steel with lattice. All of this is lost with the demolition and replacement project.
Views showing underside of bascule leaf.
Concrete Arch Span Details
Pier sculpture details.
Crown sculpture details.
Concrete arch piers.
Spandrel wall details.
Views under span.
Pier details.
Deck Details
Deck overview.
View on sidewalk facing east.
View on sidewalk facing west.
Doorways, windows, and walls at bascule pier, originally these would have provided entry to the bridgetender house, and machinery areas. These photos show details at the northwest corner of the bascule span.
Views on bridge showing the unusual added walkway that goes over a bascule span expansion joint.
Expansion joint for bascule span. Because the deck was redone after the bascule span ceased to operate, these joints are standard fixed bridge finger-dam expansion joints, not designed for an operating bascule.
Granite railing for arch spans.
Granite bench built into the bridge railing.
Transition from granite railing on concrete arch spans (right) to steel railing for bascule span (left).
Details of cast steel railing found only on the bascule span. It is carefully designed to look just like the granite balustrade railing on the concrete arch spans.
