Four beautiful bridges span the Tennessee River in the center of Chattanooga, Tennessee (pop. 184,000). Walking below these bridges, along the Riverfront trail, is a great way to view them closely and from different and unique perspectives.
Built-in 1890, Walnut Street Bridge is the oldest of the four bridges. Converted to a pedestrian bridge in 1991, it offers a delightful one-half-mile walk across the river with views of distant mountains, rocky cliffs, forests, and vibrant autumn leaves. Coolidge Park, on the other side, features a 100-year-old carousel and walking paths.
In the early years, it was called the “county bridge.” At that time it connected the predominately white city on the south side of the river with the large black workforce on the north side. As you enter the walkway bridge from downtown there is an impressive Memorial that tells the story of Ed Johnson who was tragically lynched on this bridge in 1906.
Another bridge in view along the Riverfront walkway is the Olgiati Bridge or “Ol' Johnny.” The steel girder bridge was completed in 1959 and is the newest of the four downtown bridges. The Southern Bell Riverboat floats below the bridge and offers popular sightseeing cruises.
A little further along the walk is the Market Street Bridge, officially called the John Ross Bridge. It stands out with a bright blue lifting bridge in the center. Completed in 1917, it was the longest rolling-lift bascule span in the world. The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2010.
The Veterans Memorial Bridge is a steel girder bridge built in 1984. I enjoyed viewing it from the Walnut Street Pedestrian Bridge where you can also see the the Audubon Island directly below. The island is home to the McClellan Animal Sanctuary. The bridge was built to honor American veterans for their time and commitment to the country and continues to honor them with numerous events throughout the year.
Related Posts: The Bridges of Strasbourg - September 17, 2022
Vintage Bridges of Europe - December 13, 2020
Bridges of Ljubljana - January 27, 2015
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Ron and I stopped for a few nights in Chattanooga on our drive south from La Crosse, Wisconsin to Tampa, Florida. We are now settled in Florida for the winter which is a first for us. We are excited about getting to know a new area and, of course, delighted to be staying near our daughter Anna and her family.
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| MARKET STREET BRIDGE - CHATTANOOGA |
