Poughkeepsie in Dutchess County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Nearly 3000 Men

400 Years of History

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 30, 2019

1. Nearly 3000 Men Marker

Inscription. Nearly 3,000 men worked on new rail lines to connect the bridge to existing railroads on both sides of the river. Steam drills and dynamite were used to clear some sections.

Background photo courtesy Local History Collection,
Adriance Memorial Library, Poughkeepsie, NY.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Railroads & Streetcars.

Location. 41° 42.64′ N, 73° 55.796′ W. Marker is in Poughkeepsie, New York, in Dutchess County. Marker can be reached from Parker Avenue (New York State Route 9G) ¼ mile east of Washington Street (New York State Route 9G), on the left when traveling east. Marker is mounted at knee-level on the south railing of the old Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge, 2/10 mile west of the Parker Avenue parking lot for Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 49 Parker Avenue, Poughkeepsie NY 12601, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Signal Towers (a few steps from this marker); May 8th, 1974 (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Mid-Hudson Bridge (about 500 feet away); Dutchess County (approx. 0.2 miles away); The River that Flows Both Ways

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(approx. 0.2 miles away); Back on Track (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Great Connector (approx. 0.2 miles away); Built to Last (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Poughkeepsie.

More about this marker. Originally built in 1889, today the repurposed Poughkeepsie Highland Railroad Bridge carries a scenic pedestrian walkway over the Hudson River.

Also see . . .
1. Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge History. At the time of opening, the bridge was known as the Poughkeepsie Highland Railroad Bridge. The reason for construction was due to the influx of travel by rail, development in the Midwest and necessity by major steel manufacturers like the Rockefellers. “They needed ways to get their products from the industrial northeast to the midwest as cheaply and easily as possible.” (Submitted on February 3, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge - National Archives. National Register of Historic Places documentation (Submitted on January 29, 2024, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York.)

Nearly 3000 Men Marker (<i>wide view</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 30, 2019

2. Nearly 3000 Men Marker (wide view)

East End of old Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge<br>(<i>view from near marker)</i> image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 30, 2019

3. East End of old Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge
(view from near marker)

Credits. This page was last revised on January 29, 2024. It was originally submitted on January 31, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 135 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 3, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.