BRIDGES OF CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE

 

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.

MARKET STREET BRIDGE - CHATTANOOGA 

                         

THE BRIDGES OF STRASBOURG, FRANCE

The historic city center of Strasbourg, France (pop. 287,228) is set upon an island, surrounded by the Ill River. The banks of the river offer peaceful walkways where you can meander for hours to enjoy the splendid water views, old medieval structures, and covered bridges,

The covered bridge term still prevails even though the roofs were removed in the 18^th century. The Barrage Vauban is the only remaining covered bridge.

Here are some of the awesome vintage bridges of Strasbourg—and why I keep returning to this part of the world. 

VINTAGE BRIDGES OF EUROPE

Throughout the years bridges have provided travelers with intriguing views, pleasant walks, and special memories. Most were built with the purpose of connecting places and to make life easier for everyone. They have also been a source of inspiration for artists including The Bridge in Monet's Garden (1895) by Claude Monet that was painted in Giverney, France.

My vintage bridge photos often bring back special memories of travels to Europe. Here are some favorites:

We discovered the picturesque Janez's Bridge (pictured above) when hiking around Lake Bohinj in the Julian Alps, Slovenia. The Church of St. Janez Krstnik sits at the end of the bridge. The popular Lake Bled is 17 miles away by bus.

The Castelvecchio Bridge, also called the Scaliger Bridge, connects Verona's medieval castle to the River Adige's left bank. Originally built in the 14^th century, it was totally destroyed during WW II and reconstructed in the 1950s. It is described by historian and author Valerio Manfredi as the most beautiful, most medieval, and most arched bridge of all time.

They often come with a story like the Bridge of Sighs (1600 AD.) in Venice, Italy, that connects a prison with the sentencing hall of Doge's Palace. Because of the prisoners' sadness, it was known as the Bridge of Sighs.

The Untere Schleuse Bridge (1788) is a covered wooden bridge in Thun, Switzerland. It also regulates water flow for the River Aare. The medieval city, situated on alpine Lake Thun is 19 miles southeast of Bern.

The Dom Luis I Bridge (1886) spans the River Duoro and connects the city of Porto, Portugal with the popular Port houses of Vila Nova de Gaia. The double-decker metal bridge was built to accommodate vehicles, pedestrians and the metro, offering spectacular views from all directions.

The Quiet Man Bridge from the classic 1952 movie starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara is located near Oughterard in Galway County, Ireland.

The bridge above was found among the ruins of the Roman Forum (7 BC) in Rome, Italy.

This bridge in Ljubljana, Slovenia is loaded with “love locks.” For those who left the locks and tossed the keys, they probably won't be around when you return. Unfortunately, their weight has caused structural damage to the bridges and they are being removed.

Someday in the future, when the world is healthy again, I'm going to return to walk those old bridges of Europe again. It will be with a new appreciation for a connection to the world like never before.      

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--In addition to man-made bridges there are thousands of natural ones that are still being discovered. The Natural Arch & Bridge Society website is a great source of information.

--If interested, check out the Free Dictionary to discover how many meanings there are for the word “bridge.”

--What city in Europe has the most bridges? Hamburg, Germany.       I'm intrigued by the idea of another trip to Hamburg with the goal of walking across many of its 2,300 bridges—enjoying the canals, rivers, and streams along the way.  

Related Posts:  Bridges of Rome & the Tiber River 6/29/19                                                                             Bridges of Ljubljana (1/27/15)                                                                                                   Inspirational Walking Bridge (3/6/13)