Market Street Bridge

The Market Street Bridge, with its imposing arch and granite eagles, is a testament to Philadelphia’s rich history and engineering prowess. Standing before it, we can’t help but wonder – what secrets lie beneath its sturdy facade? The bridge we see today is actually the fifth permanent structure built on this very spot. Before the bridge, a ferry transported people across the Schuylkill River. It was called the “Middle Ferry”, named so because of the upstream and downstream ferries that served this region. It was during the Revolutionary War that the first floating bridge was built using logs and rope. But it wasn’t meant to last. The American troops intentionally destroyed it to slow the British advance. The British, however, rebuilt the bridge and it served them well until it washed away in 1780. The next floating bridge also met a watery end, replaced by a bridge made of floating logs and plank flooring. By 1801, the Schuylkill Permanent Bridge Company decided to build a permanent structure. Timothy Palmer, a renowned wooden bridge builder, was hired to complete the job. He built the bridge on two existing piers and named it “The Permanent Bridge”. The bridge was completed in 1805, the first permanent bridge over a major American river. It gained even more prominence as the first covered bridge in the country, a decision that gave it a longer lifespan. Fast forward to 1850, the bridge was rebuilt and widened to accommodate a railroad track. It was this structure that was destroyed by fire in 1875, making way for the third, wooden structure, which was only in place for thirteen years before another fire destroyed it. The fourth bridge, built with three spans, incorporating a wrought-iron cantilever structure and sitting on the foundations of the Schuylkill Permanent Bridge, stood until 1932 when the current Market Street Bridge was built. It was this bridge that was adorned with the eagle statues we see today. They were salvaged from New York’s Pennsylvania Station and donated to Philadelphia after the station’s demolition in 1963, adding a touch of grandeur to the bridge. As you stand before it, imagine all the stories that linger beneath its arch, whispering tales of the past and providing a glimpse into the city’s enduring spirit.