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

Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge Construction

The Great Connector

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 30, 2019

1. Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge Construction Marker

Inscription. The cribs were partially built on land and floated out on the river where they were enlarged. They were then filled with stone, gravel, and cement until they sunk deep into the river's sediment and rested firmly on bedrock.

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

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Bridges & Viaducts.

Location. 41° 42.636′ N, 73° 56.634′ 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, about 9/10 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. Mid-Hudson Bridge Suspension Cables (within shouting distance of this marker); Poughkeepsie-Highland Bridge (within shouting distance of this marker); The Clearwater (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Fall Kill

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(about 300 feet away); Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge (about 300 feet away); Main Street Ferry Landing (about 400 feet away); a different marker also named Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge Construction (about 400 feet away); Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge Cantilevered Spans (about 600 feet 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 Construction. As fast as the clay was removed the crib would slowly sink, and we would continually put new timbers on the top and fill in more gravel. At last the lower cutting edge reached hard bottom, and would go no farther. We then dredged out all the clay remaining inside and then filled the spaces with concrete put down by the mixer. We had thus made an artificial island, but its top was 16 ft. below water. We first leveled up the surface of the concrete, by means of divers using submarine armor. We had previously built a great scow or barge, with a bottom of six courses of foot square timber

Poughkeepsie Bridge Construction Marker • <i>wide view<br>(Hudson River in background)</i> image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 30, 2019

2. Poughkeepsie Bridge Construction Marker • wide view
(Hudson River in background)

well bolted together. This was floated over the crib, the masonry pier built on it, until its weight gradually sunk it down so that the bottom rested on the crib island. The sides were then removed and the pier built up to 30 feet above water. (Submitted on February 11, 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.)

Credits. This page was last revised on January 29, 2024. It was originally submitted on February 10, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 128 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 11, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.