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All the United States Pennsylvania Mt. Jewett Kinzua Bridge

Kinzua Bridge

Once the "Eighth Wonder of the World," this iron railroad bridge was decimated by a tornado.

Mt. Jewett, Pennsylvania

Added By
Bryan Woerner
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Panorama from the overlook.   Niagara via Wikimedia
The bridge before its collapse.   Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks on Wikipedia
Looking down the skywalk.   bryanwoerner / Atlas Obscura User
Wreckage in the valley below.   bryanwoerner / Atlas Obscura User
The Kinzua Bridge today.   bryanwoerner / Atlas Obscura User
Kinzua Platform   michael5 / Atlas Obscura User
Kinzua Bridge   somewhatplanned / Atlas Obscura User
Kinzua Bridge   somewhatplanned / Atlas Obscura User
View of the surrounding mountains from the skywalk.   Bluestryke / Atlas Obscura User
View of the ruined portion of the bridge, as seen from the observatory deck.   Bluestryke / Atlas Obscura User
  tweek264 / Atlas Obscura User
Kinzua Bridge   Worldtrvlr / Atlas Obscura User
  tweek264 / Atlas Obscura User
Kinzua Bridge   somewhatplanned / Atlas Obscura User
Kinzua Bridge   somewhatplanned / Atlas Obscura User
Kinzua Bridge   CDF Monkey / Atlas Obscura User
Kinzua Sky Walk “one of the top 10 most scenic skywalks in the world.”   ANFVisitorsBureau / Atlas Obscura User
Kinzua Bridge   karoleschutt / Atlas Obscura User
  80schic84 / Atlas Obscura User
  80schic84 / Atlas Obscura User
Kinzua Bridge   karoleschutt / Atlas Obscura User
The mangled bridge from below.   Worldtrvlr / Atlas Obscura User
The collapsed section of bridge.   WhiskeyBristles / Atlas Obscura User
  lstraubbruce / Atlas Obscura User
Steel girders beside the creek   michael5 / Atlas Obscura User
Kinzua Visitor’s Center   michael5 / Atlas Obscura User
Kinzua Wreckage   michael5 / Atlas Obscura User
Steel girders across the creek   michael5 / Atlas Obscura User
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About

When the Kinzua Bridge was first built in 1882, people were blown away. Over a hundred years later, the bridge itself would be literally blown away.

The original viaduct was approximately 301 feet high and 2,053 feet long, making it the world's longest at the time. It was billed as the “Eighth Wonder of the World,” and day-trippers would come on excursion trains from as far away as Buffalo, New York to marvel at the expansive Pennsylvania construction.

In 1900, the bridge was rebuilt using stronger steel in order to accommodate heavy freight trains. It took 100 to 150 men working 10-hour shifts to complete the new bridge in 105 days. Commercial trains would continue to rumble across the bridge until 1959, when the route was abandoned in favor of trackage rights on another company. The bridge and railway were sold to a scrap merchant, who was reluctant to demolish the bridge and instead arranged for it to be purchased by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, who created a state park and permitted tourist trains to operate over the line. Inspectors closed the bridge in 2002, and, as it had become a much-beloved landmark, the restoration process quickly began.

The restoration went a little differently than had been anticipated. Turns out that the bridge’s shuttering came not a moment too soon. On Monday, July 21, 2003, at approximately 3:15pm, an F1 tornado with wind speeds around 94 mph struck the side of the Kinzua viaduct. Eleven towers from the center of the bridge were torn from their concrete bases and thrown to the valley floor, leaving only the end portions of the bridge intact. After that, it took just 30 seconds for the steel behemoth to come crumbling down.

Repairing the Kinuza Bridge would have cost around $45 million. Instead, the state of Pennsylvania made the mangled metal an attraction in its own right. Today, visitors can walk a 300-foot restored portion of the bridge, which leads to an observation deck with a striking view of both the Kinzua Creek Valley and the wreckage below.

Related Tags

Bridges Railroads Architecture

Know Before You Go

Be sure to check out the picture platform below the skywalk. The platform provides some interesting angles to photograph the bridges dilapidated support beams. Just follow the Kinzua Creek Trail until you reach a side trail that leads you to the platform. The skywalk itself is also a great spot to snap a few choice images.

Community Contributors

Added By

bryanwoerner

Edited By

hana, Bluestryke, MrCarl, sylderon...

  • hana
  • Bluestryke
  • MrCarl
  • sylderon
  • michael5
  • WhiskeyBristles
  • somewhatplanned
  • Worldtrvlr
  • CDF Monkey
  • 80schic84
  • karoleschutt
  • ANFVisitorsBureau
  • lstraubbruce
  • tweek264
  • kmd4582

Published

November 24, 2015

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Sources
  • http://www.kuriositas.com/2013/07/kinzua-bridge-once-worlds-longest.html
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinzua_Bridge
  • https://www.google.com/maps/place/Kinzua+Bridge+State+Park/@41.7592415,-78.5868061,349m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x89cd9e85a456f12d:0x3294c1d50db226d1!2s1721+Lindholm+Rd,+Mt+Jewett,+PA+16740!3b1!8m2!3d41.7395172!4d-78.6035058!3m4!1s0x865b32905b9053cf:0x15f31d2319baee04!8m2!3d41.7597902!4d-78.5871309
  • www.VisitANF.com
Kinzua Bridge
296 Viaduct Rd
Mt. Jewett, Pennsylvania, 16740
United States
41.75979, -78.587131
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Zippo/Case Museum

Bradford, Pennsylvania

miles away

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St Marys, Pennsylvania

miles away

Austin Dam

Austin, Pennsylvania

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania

United States

Places 417
Stories 28

Nearby Places

Zippo/Case Museum

Bradford, Pennsylvania

miles away

Decker's Chapel

St Marys, Pennsylvania

miles away

Austin Dam

Austin, Pennsylvania

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania

United States

Places 417
Stories 28

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