Lockport in Niagara County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

The “Big Bridge”

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 2, 2014

1. The “Big Bridge” Marker

Inscription. The first bridge across the canal in Lockport was located a the extreme eastern end of the Big Bridge. It was a narrow log bridge, only wide enough for one way traffic, with a log on either side for guard rails. Called the “Main Street Bridge”, it was Lockport’s only bridge spanning the Canal which was forty feet wide at the time.

During 1843, when the first enlargement of the Erie Canal was in progress, another wooden bridge, 105 feet wide, was built to carry Main Street traffic across the canal. Strangely enough, this wooden “Big Bridge: or “Main Street Bridge” was built west of the direct line of Main Street. By 1851, a portion of the bridge was used as a market place.

The Current “Big Bridge” is one of the widest bridges in the world and represents a tremendous engineering achievement when it was completed in 1914.

Sidebar on the right
Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
was a painter, sculptor, and an engineer and scientist. He is especially remembered for his painting of the Mona Lisa. His methods for canalization is still in practice today. He also developed the lock system for canals.

Erected by New York State Canals. (Marker Number 2.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in

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these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Erie Canal series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1843.

Location. 43° 10.188′ N, 78° 41.682′ W. Marker is in Lockport, New York, in Niagara County. It is at the intersection of Canal Street and Cottage Street, on the right when traveling west on Canal Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Lockport NY 14094, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Upstate New York,

specifically in Western New York,

and in the Buffalo Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Northeast,

on the Great Lakes,

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

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 the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

New Netherland,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named Big Bridge (within shouting distance of this marker); Erie Canal (within shouting distance of this marker); The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Gateway (within shouting distance of this marker); Canal Comparisons (within shouting distance of this marker); Lockport Municipal Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Upson Park (within shouting distance of this marker); “Lockport Flight of Five” (within shouting distance of this marker); Harrison Radiator Company (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lockport.

More about this marker. This marker is at the northeast corner of the "Big

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 2, 2014

2. The “Big Bridge” Marker

Bridge."

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 2, 2014

3. The “Big Bridge” Marker

The “Big Bridge” from below image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 2, 2014

4. The “Big Bridge” from below

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on September 7, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 896 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 7, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.