Chain Bridge at Falls of Schuylkill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chain Bridge at Falls of Schuylkill |
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"View of the Chain Bridge invented by James Finley Esq." William Strickland, The Portfolio, June 1810.
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| Coordinates | 40°00′23″N 75°11′34″W / 40.0064°N 75.1927°W |
| Crosses | Schuylkill River |
| Locale | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Characteristics | |
| Material | Wrought iron chain |
| Total length | 306 feet (93 m) |
| Width | 18 feet (5.5 m) |
| Number of spans | 2 unequal spans |
| History | |
| Designer | James Finley |
| Opened | 1808 |
| Collapsed | 1816 |
The Chain Bridge at Falls of Schuylkill was a special bridge built in 1808. It was a type of suspension bridge made from iron chains. This bridge crossed the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A clever inventor named James Finley designed it. This bridge was important because it helped him design other chain bridges later on. Sadly, it fell down in 1816 because of a lot of heavy snow.
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History of the Chain Bridge
The Chain Bridge had two main sections, called spans. The eastern span was about 200 feet (61 meters) long. The western span was shorter, about 100 feet (30 meters) long.
How the Bridge Was Built
The bridge's strong iron chains were held up by wooden towers. There were towers on both sides of the river where the bridge started and ended. Another set of towers stood on a stone support built in the middle of the river.
The chains themselves were made from thick iron bars. These bars were shaped into links, each about 8 to 12 feet (2.4 to 3.7 meters) long. These chains were used for the main cables and also for the vertical ropes that hung down. These hanging ropes connected to wooden beams under the bridge's floor.
The bridge deck, where people and wagons crossed, was made of wood. It was about 18 feet (5.5 meters) wide and 306 feet (93 meters) long in total.
Why the Bridge Collapsed
Even though James Finley patented his design, this particular bridge didn't last very long. In September 1810, part of the bridge broke when a group of cattle was crossing it.
Then, in January 1816, the entire bridge collapsed. This happened because of a very heavy snowfall. The weight of the snow, combined with a piece of wood that had started to rot, caused the bridge to fall.
After the Chain Bridge fell, a new wooden covered bridge was built in 1818. It used the same starting and ending points as the old bridge. However, this new bridge was also washed away by water in 1822.
Today, the Reading Railroad Bridge crosses the Schuylkill River in roughly the same spot. This railroad bridge was built between 1853 and 1856 and is still used today.
Images for kids
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Falls of Schuylkill, from the western side of the river. The Philadelphia and Reading Railway Bridge is in the center. Laurel Hill Cemetery can be seen in the upper right.
