Columbia Island in Southwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
An Engineering Marvel
George Washington Memorial Parkway
— National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior —
In addition to being regarded as Washington's most beautiful bridge, Arlington Memorial Bridge was an engineering marvel when it opened. The bridge was originally designed by Joseph B. Strauss as a drawbridge, and has a large bascule span that could open and close to allow the tall boats through to the port at Georgetown.
In order to maintain the beauty of the bridge and not detract from the monumental vistas, the bascule operating mechanisms and counterweights were all placed inside the bridge. At the time it opened, it was the largest drawbridge in the world without counterweight towers.
With the decline in commercial shipping river traffic and the construction of the fixed span Theodore Roosevelt Bridge in 1962, there was no need to ever open the bridge, as tall boats could no longer reach Georgetown. While the current rehabilitation will replace the drawbridge with a fixed span, the bridge stands as a testament to the ingenuity of its designers who successfully blended beauty and functionality.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1962.
Location. 38° 53.102′
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Building a Beautiful Bridge (here, next to this marker); A Bridge for the Future (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Rehabilitating a National Treasure (approx. 0.2 miles away); A Symbol of Reconciliation (approx. 0.2 miles away); A Symbol of Union (approx. 0.2 miles away in Virginia); Bridge to Peace (approx. 0.3 miles away in Virginia); Avenue of Heroes (approx. 0.3 miles away in Virginia); a different marker also named Bridge to Peace (approx. 0.3 miles away in Virginia). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Southwest Washington.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 31, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 136 times since then and 7 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 31, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
