Hudson Heights in Manhattan in New York County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Making History
The first decades of the George Washington Bridge secured its legacy. Its namesake was celebrated, the world's grandest flag was flown, and a renowned designer published praise for its aesthetic. The bridge stayed current with increased lanes of travel and non-stop maintenance.
"The George Washington Bridge over the Hudson is the most beautiful bridge in the world. Made of cables and steel beams, it gleams in the sky line a reversed arch. It is blessed
When your car moves up the ramp the two towers rise so high that it brings you to happiness; their structure is so pure, so resolute, so regular that here, finally, steel architecture seems to laugh."
Le Corbuster
Modernist Architect & city Planner
When the Cathedrals Were White, 1937
[Captions:]
The bridge sparkles with its original "diamond necklace" on an April night in 1935. The series of electric lights were strung along the structure's main cables.
Marking the 208th anniversary of George Washington's birth, traffic was stopped on the bridge that bears his name on February 22, 1940. Motorcars led by a horse-drawn carriage paraded across the span.
The suspended roadway had six lanes of travel when the bridge opened, then the central two lanes were paved in 1946 to ease traffic congestion.
In 1946, a newly sewn American flag was hung for the first time on the bridge. The largest free-flying flag in the world, it measures 60 by 90 feet and weighs 450 pounds. It is flown on special occasions then housed within one tower's arch. Engineers built a scale model of the tower to design the mechanism that hoists and lowers the flag.
Repainting the bridge in 1954, with a view of the site where the bus station would be built in the 1960s.
Erected by Port
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Patriots & Patriotism • Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical date for this entry is February 22, 1940.
Location. 40° 51.003′ N, 73° 56.479′ W. Marker is in Manhattan, New York, in New York County. It is in Hudson Heights. It can be reached from the intersection of Cabrini Boulevard and West 180th Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 47 Cabrini Blvd, New York NY 10033, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in New York City. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Mid-Atlantic, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Next Level (here, next to this marker); Opening Celebration (here, next
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), July 3, 2025
2. Markers on display at George Washington Bridge Park
Credits. This page was last revised on July 12, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 12, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 101 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 12, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
