America’s bridges are much more than impressive pathways that serve to connect areas. Many of our beautiful bridges are truly architectural inspirations, and have become iconic fixtures to the cities or areas that call them home. Here are 12 gorgeous U.S. bridges that really must be seen in person to be truly appreciated:
1. Golden Gate Bridge - San Francisco, California
This "International Orange" painted bridge is a real stand out... in terms of color, architecture, and history. It was the world's longest and tallest suspension bridge when completed in 1937. It spans over 4,200 feet.
2. Bay Bridge - Oakland, California
The San Francisco Bay Area boasts of two beautiful bridges. This incredible photo captures the Bay Bridge amongs morning fog aas seen from Grizzly Peak in Oakland Hills.
3. Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge, Dallas
This cable-stayed bridge spans the Trinity River and opened in 2012. The signature 40-story center-support arch has become a distinctive addition to the already-beautiful Dallas skyline.
4. Royal Gorge Bridge - Canon City, Colorado
This is the highest bridge in the Western Hemisphere. Almost 1,300 wooden planks make up the mostly-pedestrian bridge that stands 955 above the Arkansas River.
5. Bixby Bridge - Big Sur, California
This beautiful bridge is one of the most photographed in America for its majestic setting. This sunset view is particularly beautiful and shows off the bridge's graceful aesthetics.
6. Brooklyn Bridge - New York City, New York
This bridge took 14 years to build, but this 1883 architectural wonder served tp connect Manhattan to Brooklyn. It is perhaps best known for the 1884 P.T. Barnum publicity stunt of leading 21 elephant across the bridge to welcome the circus into town.
7. New River Gorge Bridge - Fayetteville, West Virginia
This photo was taken from Canyon Rim Visitor Center, which provides incredible overlooks of the beautiful bridge. It was completed in 1977 and reduced a 40-minute drive down mountain roads to less than one minute.
8. George Washington Bridge - New York and New Jersey
This double-decker suspension bridge spans the Hudson River. It is always congested but provides spectacular views.
9. Tilikum Crossing - Portland, Oregon
Only right rail, pedestrians, bicyclists, streetcars, and buses are allowed on this beautiful structure that opened in 2015.
10. Chesapeake Bay Bridge - Kent Island and Annapolis, Maryland
The bridge is 4.2 miles long and is one of the longest over-water structures in the world. It features two spans, one for each direction of traffic. The bridges rise 186 feet above the water, providing exquisite views.
11. State Route 520 Floating Bridge - Seattle, Washington
This is the world's longest floating bridge, spanning over 7,700 feet across Lake Washington. The roadway is elevated 20 feet above water. The new replacement bridge that opened in 2016 uses 77 concrete pontoons as the foundation and is considered an architectural wonder.
12. Gateway Bridge - Nashville, Tennessee
Known as the "Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge,"' Gateway Bridge spans the Cumberland River and is an important part of Nashville's cityscape. The bridge is often lit up in a range of colors to celebrate various events. The bridge is known as Tennessee's first through-arch structure.
Have you traveled across any of these architectural wonders, and if so, what are your impressions? What other beautiful bridges in America do you think should be added to this list? We’d love for you to share any of your favorite bridge photos with us as well.
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