The Upper Niagara Bridges

museum
The Upper Suspension Bridges (1869-1897)

Photograph of the First Falls View Suspension Bridge, camera is pointed the length of the bridge along the deck. Imposing wooden, trestle structure of the pylons take up most of the image; the other pylon stands at the other end of the bridge. There is a building in the fore-ground infront of the bridge. Large cables hold the pylons of the bridge down which are in anchor points behind the photographer. Underneath the photograph is written
First Edition Falls View Suspension Bridge (1867-1889)

With the success of the Railway Suspension Bridge at the Whirlpool, there was considerable pressure from local business people to build a bridge closer to the Falls. On May 22, 1867, a Canadian charter was granted to the Clifton Suspension Bridge Company to build a suspension bridge at Falls View (within view of the Falls). A bridge design by the chief engineer of the project, Samuel Keefer, was completed by June, 1867, and wooden towers were erected on either side of the site. Work on the bridge structure progressed slowly and was suspended entirely from October, 1867 to May, 1868, possibly due to a lack of funding. In February, during the ice bridge, cables were extended across the gorge. The bridge deck was laid in October, 1868, and opened to traffic on January 4, 1869, with a splendid ceremony.

With a span of 1,260 feet, the Upper Suspension Bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world and was built at a cost of $150,000. Located 900 feet below the American Falls, the span was anchored by four wooden towers, each 28 feet square at the base and 4 feet square at the top. The height of the towers were different on the American and Canadian sides as a result of different levels of rock, and so the American tower stood 100 feet tall while the Canadian one rose to height of 105 feet.

The original Falls View Suspension Bridge was updated and clad in corrugated iron with two main additions to this structure. One was the Observation tower, shown as the cupola on the top of the near tower; it also had a latticed fence around the top of the pylon tower from which people could view the falls. The other addition was that of the elevator which allowed people to easily get to the observation deck of the bridge tower. This tower is on the US side, facing the Canadian side as shown by the moraine and opera house (which belonged to the Clifton House) on the far side. Unfortunately the Clifton House is located behind the iron-clad tower. There is a rise in the land to the right of the bridge and a building, possibly a customs house, to the left of the bridge. Written on the tower is Update to the Falls View Suspension Bridge (1872-1889)

In 1872, the Bridge Company enclosed the open towers with wood on three sides and corrugated iron on the fourth. The lower levels of the towers were made into a board room and offices for Customs and Immigration Officers. They also built an observation deck which was accessed by a newly installed elevator. The wooden deck supports were replaced with iron in 1876, and when the bridge was re-planked in 1881, a few electric lights were installed. The wooden towers of the bridge were replaced with steel in May of 1885.

The width of the bridge was only 10 feet, and as a result, traffic could only flow in one direction, leading to traffic congestion and delays on both sides. The Bridge Company decided to rebuild the bridge, making it wider for two way traffic and stronger to carry heavier loads. Everything except the steel towers were rebuilt by the Rochester Bridge works, and the new bridge was completed in the fall of 1888. Instead of the usual river guy lines, they decided to use a lateral wind cable, which proved to be a costly mistake. The bridge had been in service for only 2 months when it was destroyed by a strong southwest gale on January 9, 1889

The Second Falls View Suspension Bridge (1889-1897). Black and white image of a steel towers, large cables going behind the photographer and many stretching alongside the length of the bridge to minimise the sway after the last one collapsed. The photograph is taken from essentially the same point as the updated Falls View Suspsension Bridge, with a moraine and Clifton House at the opposite side of the image, although the Clifton House is visible due to the minimal material needed in the steel towers. There is a building to the left of the bridge which could be the customs house as well as a rise to the right of the bridge. The bridge is wide enough to fit two lanes of traffic.

Second Falls View Suspension Bridge (1889-1897)

The Bridge Company decided to rebuild the bridge. On January 30, the contract was awarded to the Rochester Bridge and Iron Works which quickly built the bridge according to the plans of the old bridge, but with a new system of storm cables. The bridge was opened on May 7, 1889, less than four months after the destruction of the old bridge.

Upper Steel Arch Bridge (1897-1938)

The Upper Steel Arch Bridge or the Honeymoon Bridge. Colourised photograph of the Honeymoon Bridge from the Canadian side. The 1929 Art Deco, Niagara United Office Building appears in the background in Niagara Falls New York State. Many cars are lined along the wooden topped bridge and on the near side (the south side) to have a view of the Niagara Falls. The feet of the arch bridge are barely above the water line. A red-shingle-roof building is in the extreme fore-ground and to the left of the creator. The trestling of the steel is noticeable, as is the swooping braces at the beginning before the main arch of the structure.
Upper Steel Arch Bridge (Honeymoon Bridge)

With the advent of the electric railway, the bridge was found to be increasingly unable to support heavy loads. With the intention of strengthening and expanding the existing structure, the Bridge Company hired Leffert L. Buck, who suggested that it would be necessary to build a new bridge to sustain the heavy traffic. As a result, the Bridge Company decided to build a new arch bridge on January 5, 1897.

The Canadian abutment of the bridge was constructed directly below the Suspension Bridge, but the American abutment was constructed 14 feet closer to the American Falls. Both abutments were located only a few feet above the water level of the River, and it is this proximity to the water level which would prove to be the downfall of the bridge some 40 years later. The contract for the steel structure of the bridge was awarded to the Pencoyd Bridge Company of Philadelphia in May, 1897. The steel structure was built under and around the existing Suspension Bridge which was dismantled after the new bridge was completed.

The Upper Steel Arch Bridge, also known as the Falls View Bridge and Honeymoon Bridge, opened to traffic on June 23, 1897, and with a span of 840 feet, it became the longest such structure in the world. The completed bridge was one floor, and had double tracks for electric trolleys, as well as room for carriages and pedestrians. The Upper Steel Arch Bridge was a beautiful and graceful structure which offered a spectacular view of the Falls.

Collapse of the Upper Steel Arch Bridge on January 27, 1938. Black and white photograph of the wreckage after the ice jam pushed the arch bridge off of its footings. The dark steel structure juxtaposes the white ice and snow. The American Falls is at the far right and thus the photo is taken from the Canadian side. A tree is in the fore-ground at the left of the image with no leaves.
Collapse of the Upper Steel Arch Bridge (Honeymoon Bridge) January 27, 1938

The abutments of the bridge were so close to the water that they had to be constantly protected from the ice which jammed in the river every year. In January, 1938, an ice jam caused by a combination of thin ice on Lake Erie, a 5-day thaw and 3 days of high winds spelled the end of the Upper Steel Arch Bridge. Nearly 100 feet of ice twisted the steel frame of the bridge, and as it creaked and groaned, spectators knew that it would be only a matter of time before the bridge collapsed. At about 4:10 p.m. on January 27, 1938, a movement of ice on the American side pushed the bridge off of its abutment. With a huge roar, it collapsed into the gorge, forming a twisted steel "W" on the ice below. The wreckage of the bridge was cut into six sections which remained for the duration of the winter, until the ice bridge began to break-up. On April 12, 1938, the pieces of the once-grand bridge began to sink, one by one, the last one disappearing from view at 4:00 p.m.

Rainbow Bridge (1941-present)

Construction of the Rainbow Bridge. Photograph taken from the Canadian side looking toward the American side, the Niagara United Office Building is on the opposite shore. The former footings of the Honeymoon Bridge is at the right; the footings of the Rainbow Bridge are twice as far from the water line as the previous bridge's. The concrete portions of this bridge are the top and the arches prior to the steel riveted main arch, which forms the majority of the bridge. Several trees dot the sides of the gorge on both sides. There are no workers in this image.
Construction of the Rainbow Bridge in 1940-1941

Concerns over the safety of the Upper Steel Arch Bridge had led the Niagara Parks Commission to consider the possibility of building another bridge near the Falls. Using The Niagara Falls Observation Bridge Company as their delegate, the Commission obtained a charter to build a new bridge at Falls View. When the Honeymoon Bridge was destroyed, plans to build this new bridge were well underway, and the Commission announced that it would build a new bridge as soon as possible. However, the International Railway Company, which had owned the Honeymoon Bridge, also declared their intention of building a bridge on that location. This was the beginning of the fourteen-month battle between the Parks Commission and the International Railway Company for the right to build the new bridge. On April 29, 1939, the Bridge Commission, which had been jointly created by the Legislature of Ontario and the State of New York, awarded $615,000 to the International Railway Company, and the dispute was finally settled.

The bridge was designed by Edward P. Lupfer, and the ground was broken for the foundations in May, 1939. On February 17, 1940, construction of the steel structure began, and a christening ceremony was held for the bridge. The name "Rainbow Bridge" was chosen as a symbol of the friendship between Canada and the United States. The Rainbow Bridge was completed in the Fall of 1941, and celebrated its official opening on November 1 . The Bridge has a span of 1450 feet and is 202 feet above the water level. The deck has two 22 foot roadways separated by a barrier and a walkway for pedestrians. A stone tower with a carillon of bells was added to the bridge complex in June, 1947. The bridge remains a popular crossing and extensive renovations to enhance the traffic capacity of the Rainbow Bridge are currently underway.