HistoricBridges.org offers professional detail-oriented photo-documentation, information, and preservation advocacy for all types of historic bridges except covered bridges. HistoricBridges.org is authored by Nathan Holth. Click Here For The Latest Website Update (7-3-20).
HistoricBridges.org Features
Featuring photo-documentation and narratives, the Bridge Browser offers photo-documentation and narrative discussion for thousands of selected historic bridges. Although selected bridges from around the world are listed, the Bridge Browser focuses on North America. Places listed in blue on the interactive map below have bridges available. The BridgeSeek search tool, is also available. This link has new and under-construction pages. There are currently 5787 bridges available in the Bridge Browser.
Random Bridge (Click To Load Another)
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Hell Gate Bridge
New York Connecting Railroad Bridge | New York: The Bronx, New York and Queens, New York and Manhattan, New York | This iconic bridge had the longest arch span in the world when built, but its approach spans are also very noteworthy. | 
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Worldwide Countries and Regions
Brazil
(Brasil) China (中国)
Europe and the United
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Additional Website Features
Historic Bridge Finder App: Find Nearby Bridges
The Historic Bridge Finder App, produced by the Historic Bridge Foundation, is an app that uses Google Maps and allows you to instantly locate and visit all historic bridges on the HistoricBridges.org Bridge Browser, including instantly listing all bridges that are near your current location (and have not been demolished yet). These features are not available using the HistoricBridges.org website, so download this Apple/Android app today to quickly find and visit bridges on HistoricBridges.org!
An Introduction to Historic Bridges
Informative presentations designed to introduce viewers to the world of historic bridges. Utilizing photos and diagrams, the various terminology, construction, and configuration of historic bridges is discussed. A presentation on inspecting historic bridges is also available. This page also features some formal, yet easy-to-read, essays that further explore the historic bridge world.
An archive of presentations given by
HistoricBridges.org, plus numerous articles relating to historic bridges. This section also includes some non-bridge related photos. Some of the
major features include:
- Downloadable presentations previously given by
HistoricBridges.org.
- A discussion of Michigan's ornamental "Type R4" bridge
railing.
- An in-depth look at curved chord through girder bridges.
Historic Bridge Park: A Visitor's Guide
A comprehensive visitor's guide to this unique park located in Calhoun County, Michigan whose focus is the restored metal truss bridges within the park. Contains maps, photos, and links to bridge browser pages for the historic bridges within the park.
HistoricBridges.org Prints Store
The Prints Store is where you can purchase quality prints of selected photos from HistoricBridges.org taken by Nathan Holth. Photos are organized into folders by state/province. Don't see the bridge and/or photo you would like a print of? Contact us and let us know what photo you would like and we will upload it to the store so you can purchase your prints.
Iron and Steel Brands: A Catalog of Steel Mill Marks
This is a one-stop photographic catalog of the names of steel mills found on bridges in the United States and around the world. The wording and design of these mill marks/brands changed over the years and in some cases can assist in dating the iron/steel materials on a bridge.
Features a collection of external links to other bridge websites on the Internet. Many other bridge enthusiast websites feature bridges from areas not covered by this website, and links to those websites can be found here.
Website Updates
July 3, 2020 - Minor Website Change and Continuing Updates
The "Maps and Links" page has been merged into the main bridge browser pages for each bridge. You can still use buttons at the top to jump down to the maps part of the page. This change is intended to simplify the website. We also added some new maps links such as Apple Maps, Waze, and USGS National Map.
The Iron and Steel Brands page has been updated. Most of the additions were for British/European brands found on bridges in Quebec.
This week's update package includes some bridges of Indianapolis, a few bridges in Ohio, and continuing Quebec coverage. We also added photos to the Swinney Park Bridge.
View The Latest Additions To The Website
June 13, 2020 - Continuation of North America Coverage Expansion
Weekly additions to the website continue, so please check back often to see the latest bridges added to the website. Additions are being added from a rotating variety of states and provinces to try to keep a variety for visitors looking for new updates.
This week's update package includes some of the top bridges in New York City Central Park, and the bridges of Duluth.
June 13, 2020 - Continuation of North America Coverage Expansion
Weekly additions to the website continue, so please check back often to see the latest bridges added to the website. Additions are being added from a rotating variety of states and provinces to try to keep a variety for visitors looking for new updates.
This update has a number of additions for several states (particularly Texas) plus Ontario.
May 22, 2020 - Continuation of North America Coverage Expansion
Weekly additions to the website continue, so please check back often to see the latest bridges added to the website. Additions are being added from a rotating variety of states and provinces to try to keep a variety for visitors looking for new updates.
This update marks the addition of the province of Alberta to the website. Also, many bridges have been added to Saskatchewan.
May 9, 2020 - Continuation of North America Coverage Expansion - Rhode Island Added, More Parishes Added To Louisiana
Weekly additions to the website continue, so please check back often to see the latest bridges added to the website. Additions are being added from a rotating variety of states and provinces to try to keep a variety for visitors looking for new updates.
This update marks the addition of the state of Rhode Island to the website. Only a few bridges are currently added (including the nationally significant Mount Hope Bridge), more will be added later.
Several parishes have been added to Louisiana, including several Mississippi River bridges.
April 29, 2020 - Continuation of North America Coverage Expansion - Mississippi Added, Plus Quebec Expansion
Weekly additions to the website continue, so please check back often to see the latest bridges added to the website. Additions are being added from a rotating variety of states and provinces to try to keep a variety for visitors looking for new updates.
This update marks the addition of the state of Mississippi to the website. Only a couple bridges are currently added (including the nationally significant Fairground Street Bridge), more will be added later.
Another major update this month has been expanding the Quebec coverage on this website. Many have been added, but many more bridges remain to be added.
March 27, 2020 - Continuation of North America Coverage Expansion - Many High Significance Bridges Added
Stuck at home because of the virus? At HistoricBridges.org we have a huge backlog of bridges that are being added to the website with new additions weekly! We take so many photos of each bridge that its the next best thing to actually visiting the bridge! So enjoy our new additions from the safety of your home!
The reason there were not any updates to this website in 2019 was because an enormous number of bridges were visited across the United States and Canada which left no time for actual website work. Work is now fully underway this year to add this massive collection of bridges to the website. This is the first "official" update package, with new counties added for many different states.
February 5, 2020 - Start of Louisiana Coverage
The reason there were not many updates to this website in 2019 was because an enormous number of bridges were visited across the United States and Canada which left no time for actual website work. Although work is still underway preparing the enormous quantity of photos, expect to see more website activity over the coming year as this work completes.
To tease the upcoming additions, this single bridge update adds the state of Louisiana and one of the most significant bridges in the state, the Morgan City Long-Allen Bridge.
Chicago's Bridges Book Now Available!
By Nathan Holth, author of HistoricBridges.org, this book provides a discussion of the history of Chicago's movable bridges, and includes a virtual tour discussing all movable bridges remaining in Chicago today. The book includes dozens of full color photos.
Only $9.95 U.S.!
($11.95 Canadian)
Available Now Direct From The Publisher!
Looking For A Pedestrian or Light Vehicular Bridge?
Whether you are a park, trail organization, college, city, or private landowner, you want your property to be something unique and special. Why settle for a boring, dull pre-fabricated pedestrian bridge when you can get a beautiful historic bridge to do the same thing? Many states maintain a list of bridges which you can acquire, relocate and restore, and other individually listed opportunities often are available. These bridges normally can be acquired free of charge, so use the money you were going to put toward buying a pre-fab bridge and instead use it to restore the bridge. Not sure how to restore a bridge? HistoricBridges.org can help guide you to people and firms that can help, or you can just get in touch with Bach Steel. Note: these bridges will be demolished if nobody acquires them.View Currently Available Bridges List, Maintained By Historic Bridge Foundation
Support Historic Bridges With A Donation To The Historic Bridge Foundation:
We do not seek donations for the operation of HistoricBridges.org, nor do we feature advertisements in our content. However if you are interested in helping the cause of historic bridges by financial means, we strongly suggest a tax-deductible donation to the Historic Bridge Foundation:
Historic Bridge Foundation
Donate
The Historic Bridge Foundation works to encourage government agencies and officials to preserve historic bridges, the Foundation provides consultation and guidance to individuals and groups seeking to preserve historic bridges. The expertise available at the Foundation is evidenced by the fact that HistoricBridges.org frequently refers people to the Foundation for further assistance beyond what HistoricBridges.org itself provides.
If you have any questions about why a donation to the Historic Bridge Foundation is worthwhile, feel free to contact HistoricBridges.org. Alternatively, learn more about the Historic Bridge Foundation at their website www.historicbridgefoundation.com.
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