Chain Bridge (Easton, Pennsylvania) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Change Bridge
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Chain Bridge, the cable and Central Pier. View from the Right Pier. August 2013.
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Southwest of Glendon on Hugh Moore Parkway across the Lehigh River, Palmer Township and Williams Township, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 5 acres (2.0 ha) |
| Built | 1856-1857 |
| Built by | Douglas, E.A. (engineer), Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company |
| NRHP reference No. | 74001798 |
| Added to NRHP | February 12, 1974 |
The Chain Bridge, also known as the Change Bridge or Lehigh Canal Swinging Bridge, is a very old and important bridge. It crosses the Lehigh River in Northampton County, Pennsylvania. This historic bridge connects Palmer Township and Williams Township.
It was built a long time ago, between 1856 and 1857. The bridge has three strong stone piers (supports) and two spans (sections). Each pier stands about 30 feet tall. By 1972, the bridge mostly consisted of these piers and its main cable.
Why is the Chain Bridge Important?
The Chain Bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). This happened in 1974. The NRHP is a special list of places in the United States that are important to history. Being on this list helps protect them.
The area around the bridge, about 5 acres, was also included in this listing. The bridge is also part of a bigger historic area. This larger area is called the Lehigh Canal: Eastern Section Glendon and Abbott Street Industrial Sites. This larger district has many other old buildings and structures. It was added to the NRHP in 1979.
Gallery
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The central pier.
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The right pier.
