Fayetteville in Fayette County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)
Spanning the Gorge
New River Gorge National River
| | National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior | |
Photographed by J. J. Prats, July 25, 2021
1. Spanning the Gorge Marker
With the opening of the iconic New River Gorge Bridge on October 22, 1977, the challenge of getting across the 876 foot deep gorge was solved. The bridge dramatically decreased travel time. A 45 minute winding drive down and back up suddenly became a 45 second trip across the top. This gave the local communities easier access to work, shops, schools, and families across the river. The bridge is the longest steel arch span in the western hemisphere and today, the third highest bridge in the United States. Enjoy the view of the bridge and one of the world's oldest rivers, the New River, below it.
The height of the bridge is 876 feet. That's high enough for the Statue of Liberty to stand underneath it twice atop the Washington Monument with 20 feet to spare.
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 date for this entry is October 22, 1977.
Location. 38° 4.2′ N, 81° 4.733′ W. Marker is in Fayetteville, West Virginia, in Fayette County. It is on Fayette Station Road
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in the New River Gorge and in Greater Charleston Area. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in Appalachia, and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Layers of History (within shouting distance of this marker); The Bridge (within shouting distance of this marker); Growth of an Era (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named The Bridge (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); From Coal Mining to Rock Climbing (about 400 feet away); An Obstacle and an Avenue (about 400 feet away); New River Gorge Bridge (about 700 feet away); Find Your Connection
Photographed by J. J. Prats, July 25, 2021
2. Spanning the Gorge Marker, Summer View
Photographed by Craig Doda, February 16, 2020
3. Spanning the Gorge Marker
The height of the bridge is 876 feet. That's high enough for the Statue of Liberty to stand underneath it twice atop the Washington Monument with 20 feet to spare.
Photographed by Craig Doda, February 16, 2020
4. Spanning the Gorge Marker, Winter View
Photographed by Craig Doda, February 16, 2020
5. Spanning the Gorge Marker, winter View
Photographed by J. J. Prats, July 25, 2021
6. Summertime View of Bridge from the Marker
Photographed by J. J. Prats, July 25, 2021
7. U.S. Route 19 Spanning the New River Gorge
This view is from the Fayette Station Bridge at the bottom of the gorge.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 13, 2021. It was originally submitted on January 20, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 300 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 13, 2021, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 3, 4, 5. submitted on January 20, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. 6, 7. submitted on August 13, 2021, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
