Washington Bridge
Why it's listed
Washington Bridge carries traffic across the Harlem River between West 181st Street in Manhattan and University Avenue in the Bronx. Built in 1886-89, it combines two 510-foot steel arch spans with granite-faced masonry approaches, three arches on the Manhattan side and four on the Bronx side. A design competition in 1885 led to a plan by the Union Bridge Company that blended the two winning entries by Charles Conrad Schneider and Wilhelm Hildenbrand. It was the first American bridge to use steel plate girders for arch ribs and an early two-hinged metal arch. Engineers including William J. McAlpine, William R. Hutton and Theodore Cooper worked on it, and DeLemos & Cordes designed the ornamental cornice and balustrade. Construction employed about 500 men. Later changes included widened roadways, new ramps, added bracing in the 1930s, and loss of original lampposts and some balustrade details. Contemporary and later critics praised both its engineering and its appearance.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a significant structure in American engineering history, reflecting nineteenth-century advances in bridge technology. It was the first American bridge to use steel plate girders for arch ribs and an early example of the two-hinged metal arch. Its granite approaches are also noted for fine stone craftsmanship, and it brought together a distinguished group of engineers and architects.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 83001645, listed September 22, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Between Amsterdam and Undercliff Aves., New York |
|---|---|
| County | The Bronx |
| Listed | September 22, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83001645 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1886-89 |
| Architect / builder | Charles C. Schneider and Wilhelm Hildenbrand, design modified by Union Bridge Company |
| Areas of significance | Engineering |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a transportation structure; the form lists it as occupied, publicly owned, and in use for transportation. Parts of the balustrade are missing and the lampposts have been replaced. |
| Acreage | 2.5 |
| Coordinates | 40.84505, -73.92427 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 83001645.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q2550421
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.