Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Taking Tours of Washington D.C. Bridges

By Gary Mullen


Whether or not you are an architectural appreciator or simply enjoy significant historic structures, visitors won't want to miss the various amazing beautiful bridges in Washington D.C.. Featuring fascinating stories that tell the history of the country, Washington D.C. Bridges tell a story all their own.

Arlington Memorial Bridge

Regularly thought to be one of the most beautiful bridges in Washington D.C, the Arlington Memorial Bridge is full of symbolism. Connecting the Northern area with the South, the Arlington Memorial Bridge crosses over the historical Potomac River, providing a connecting route for the Lincoln Memorial to Columbia Island. Rich in art and detail, the Arlington Memorial Bridge displays famous sculptures like The Arts of War, which were sculpted by Leo Friedlander. Along the pylons on each pier, you can also view the work of sculptor Carl Paul Jennewein, which are enormous circulars discs completed with eagles and faces.

Francis Scott Key Bridge

Erected in 1923, the Francis Scott Key Bridge was created by the Army Corps of Engineers. This bridge provides straightforward commuting between Arlington County, Washington D.C. and Virginia. This bridge is the oldest bridge that crosses over the Potomac River. Designers Max Tyler and Nathan Wyeth made use of a classical revival arch design when drafting the plans for this bridge.

John Philip Sousa Bridge

Named after John Philip Sousa, the famous composer of many patriotic marches, the John Philip Sousa Bridge carries Pennsylvania Avenue over the Anacostia River. The John Philip Sousa bridge was opened in 1940 using the same masonry piers that were exploited for the previous bridge that stood in its place.

Chain Bridge

Carrying virtually 22,000 vehicles a day the Chain Bridge crosses over the Potomac River in Little Falls area of Washington, D.C. This girder designed bridge was assembled in 1939 from steel. The Chain Bridge marks the site where the Union Army gained their access to the countryside encampments around Fairfax County. The bridge features a massive crossbeam structure which seems just like a pergola or long garden arbor. The current bridge is the second structure to stand in place as the 1st Chain Bridge was originally opened in 1793. Chain linked trusses were added in 1810 to the initial bridge structure, giving the structure its preferred name. All together there have been a sum total of eight different version of this bridge in the location on which it now sits.

14th Street Bridge

Composed from 5 bridges that all cross over the Potomac River, the 14th Street Bridge connects Arlington, VA with Washington, D.C. This structure carries many different names composed of , Arland D. Williams Jr. Memorial Bridge, Charles R. Fenwick Bridge, Rochambeau Bridge, the Long Bridge, and the George Mason Memorial Bridge. Of all the Washington D.C. Bridges, the Chain Bridge carries the most tragic tales. This bridge is the site where the Air Florida Flight 90 airplane crash happened on in January of 1982. Today repairs are continuing to be done on this bridge to mend damage caused in that airplane crash.




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