Sunday, October 27, 2013

How to Visit Washington D.C. Bridges

By Gary Mullen


Whether travelers are an architectural appreciator or just enjoy significant historical structures, you won't want to miss the many superb bridges in Wasington D.C.. Featuring fascinating mythos that tell the history of the country, Washington D.C. Bridges tell stories all their own.

Arlington Memorial Bridge

Often considered to be one of the prettiest bridges in Washington D.C, the Arlington Memorial Bridge is crammed with symbolism. Connecting the Northerly area with the South, this bridge crosses over the historical Potomac River, connecting the Lincoln Memorial to Columbia Island. Rich in art and detail, the Arlington Memorial Bridge is known also for famous sculptures such as "The Arts of War", which were made by Leo Friedlander. Along the pylons on each pier, visitors can also see the work of sculptor Carl Paul Jennewein, which are massive circulars discs completed with eagles and faces.

Francis Scott Key Bridge

Completed in 1923, the Francis Scott Key Bridge was built by the Army Corps of Engineers. This bridge provides easy commuting between Washington D.C., Virginia and Arlington County. This bridge is the oldest bridge that crosses over the Potomac River. Architects and designers Nathan Wyeth and Max Tyler exploited a classical revival arch design when creating 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. This bridge was opened in 1940 utilizing the same masonry piers that were utilized for the previous bridge that stood in its place.

Chain Bridge

Carrying nearly 22,000 cars 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 Armed forces gained their access to the countryside encampments inside Fairfax County. The bridge features a big crossbeam structure which seems exactly like a pergola or long garden arbor. The current bridge is the second structure to stand in place as the original Chain Bridge was first opened in 1793. Chain linked trusses were added in 1810 to the original bridge structure, giving the structure its well-liked name. All together there's been a sum total of eight different version of this bridge in the location on which it now sits.

14th Street Bridge

Composed of 5 bridges that all cross over the Potomac River, the 14th Street Bridge connects Virginia, DC and Arlington. This structure carries many various names composed from , Arland D. Williams Jr. Memorial Bridge, Charles R. Fenwick Bridge, the Long Bridge, Rochambeau Bridge and the George Mason Memorial Bridge. Of all the Washington D.C. Bridges, the Chain Bridge carries the most tragic mythos. This bridge is the site where the Air Florida Flight 90 airplane crash happened on January 13, 1982. Today repairs are continuing to be completed on this bridge to fix damage caused in that tragedy.




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