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List of bridges and tunnels on the National Register of Historic Places in New York facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

New York State is home to many incredible bridges and tunnels, some of which are so special that they are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This is an official list of places in the United States that are important to history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, or culture. When a bridge or tunnel is added to this list, it means it's a valuable part of our past that should be protected and remembered. These structures aren't just ways to get from one place to another; they are amazing examples of engineering and tell us a lot about how people lived and traveled long ago.

Historic Crossings in New York

New York has a rich history of building impressive bridges and tunnels. These structures helped people travel, trade, and connect communities across rivers, valleys, and even under cities. Let's explore some of these famous and fascinating historic crossings.

Iconic Bridges of New York City

New York City is famous for its towering buildings and busy streets, but it also has some of the most well-known bridges in the world. These bridges are not just beautiful; they are engineering marvels that have stood for over a century.

The Brooklyn Bridge

The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the most famous bridges in the world. It connects the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn in New York City.

  • Built: This amazing bridge was built between 1869 and 1883.
  • Type: It's a wire cable suspension bridge, which means its deck hangs from strong steel cables supported by tall towers.
  • Why it's special: When it opened, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world! It was a huge step forward in bridge building and is still a symbol of New York.

The Manhattan Bridge

Another giant bridge connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn is the Manhattan Bridge.

  • Built: Construction on this bridge started in 1901 and finished in 1909.
  • Type: Like the Brooklyn Bridge, it's a suspension bridge, but it uses a different design for its cables.
  • Why it's special: It carries cars, trains, and even pedestrians, making it a very busy and important crossing.

The Queensboro Bridge

The Queensboro Bridge connects Manhattan to the borough of Queens.

  • Built: This bridge was completed in 1909.
  • Type: It's a through cantilever truss bridge. This design uses strong, rigid sections that extend out from the supports.
  • Why it's special: It's a massive structure that has helped millions of people travel between these two busy parts of New York City for over a hundred years.

Underground Journeys: Historic Tunnels

Not all historic crossings are above ground! New York also has some very old and important tunnels that allow people and trains to travel under rivers and land.

The Atlantic Avenue Tunnel

The Atlantic Avenue Tunnel is a very old tunnel located in New York City.

  • Built: It was built way back in 1844!
  • Type: This is a "cut and cover" tunnel, meaning a trench was dug, the tunnel built, and then covered over.
  • Why it's special: It's one of the oldest subway tunnels in the world and was originally used for trains. It's a hidden piece of history right under the city streets.

The Holland Tunnel

The Holland Tunnel connects Manhattan in New York City to Jersey City in New Jersey under the Hudson River.

  • Built: It was built between 1920 and 1927.
  • Type: It's a cast iron subaqueous tunnel, meaning it was built underwater using large iron sections.
  • Why it's special: It was the first mechanically ventilated underwater tunnel in the world, which was a huge achievement for its time, allowing cars to drive safely through.

The Joralemon Street Tunnel

The Joralemon Street Tunnel is another important underwater tunnel in New York City.

  • Built: It was completed in 1908.
  • Why it's special: This tunnel was a key part of the early New York City subway system, helping trains cross under the East River.

Charming Covered Bridges

Covered bridges are like tunnels made of wood! They have roofs and walls, which helped protect the wooden parts of the bridge from weather, making them last longer. New York has several beautiful examples.

The Ashokan-Turnwood Covered Bridge

Located in Olivebridge, this bridge is a lovely example of a covered bridge.

  • Built: It was built in 1885, with some changes made in 1939.

The Beaverkill Covered Bridge

The Beaverkill Covered Bridge can be found in Beaverkill.

  • Built: This historic bridge was built in 1865.

The Buskirk Covered Bridge

The Buskirk Covered Bridge is located in Buskirk.

  • Built: It was built around 1850.
  • Type: It's a covered Howe truss bridge, a specific design that uses both wood and iron.

The Hyde Hall Covered Bridge

The Hyde Hall Covered Bridge in East Springfield is one of the oldest covered bridges.

  • Built: It was built in 1825.

Perrine's Bridge

Perrine's Bridge in Rosendale is another notable covered bridge.

  • Built: It was built in 1844.
  • Type: It uses a Burr Arch design, which combines a wooden arch with a truss system for extra strength.

Strong Stone Arch Bridges

Stone arch bridges are built using many stones fitted together to form a strong arch. They are known for being very durable and can last for hundreds of years.

The Allan Teator Road Stone Arch Bridge

This bridge is in West Durham.

  • Built: It was built in 1892.

The Bedford Creek Bridge

The Bedford Creek Bridge is located in Hounsfield.

  • Built: It was built around 1825.

The Newport Stone Arch Bridge

Found in Newport, this bridge is a great example of stone arch construction.

  • Built: It was built in 1853.

The Stone Arch Bridge (Keeseville)

This impressive stone arch bridge is in Keeseville.

  • Built: It was built in 1843.

Other Notable Bridges

New York is home to many other types of historic bridges, each with its own unique design and story.

The Bear Mountain Bridge

The Bear Mountain Bridge and Toll House is a beautiful bridge crossing the Hudson River near Peekskill and Stony Point.

  • Built: It was built between 1923 and 1924.
  • Why it's special: When it opened, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world outside of New York City, and it was the first car bridge to cross the Hudson River below Albany.

The Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge

The Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge is a massive structure in Poughkeepsie.

  • Built: It was built between 1876 and 1888.
  • Type: It's a Warren Deck-Truss bridge.
  • Why it's special: It was once the longest bridge in the world and played a huge role in connecting railroads across the Hudson River. Today, it's a popular pedestrian park called the "Walkway Over the Hudson."

The Kingston-Port Ewen Suspension Bridge

This bridge connects Kingston to Port Ewen.

  • Built: It was built between 1919 and 1922.

The High Bridge Aqueduct and Water Tower

The High Bridge Aqueduct and Water Tower is a historic structure in New York City.

  • Built: It was built between 1838 and 1872.
  • Why it's special: It was originally part of the city's water supply system, bringing fresh water into Manhattan.

These bridges and tunnels are more than just old structures; they are monuments to human ingenuity and hard work. They remind us of the challenges people faced in the past and how they overcame them to build the world we live in today.

Images for kids

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    69th Street Transfer Bridge

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    Allan Teator Road Stone Arch Bridge

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    Andrews Street Bridge

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    Ashokan-Turnwood Covered Bridge

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    Atlantic Avenue Tunnel

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    Avon Five Arch Bridge

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    AuSable Chasm Bridge

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    Bear Mountain Bridge

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    Beaverkill Covered Bridge

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    Beer's Bridge

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    Brand Hollow Road Stone Arch Bridge

  • Bridge L-158, Goldens Bridge, NY

    Bridge L-158

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    Brooklyn Bridge

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    Buskirk Covered Bridge

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    Caneadea Bridge

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    Carpenter's Flats Bridge

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    Copeland Covered Bridge

  • Rochester - Court Street Bridge panorama

    Court Street Bridge

  • Double-Span Metal Pratt Truss Bridge, Keeseville, NY

    Double-Span Metal Pratt Truss Bridge

  • Shaw Bridge, Claverack, NY

    Double-Span Whipple Bowstring Truss Bridge

  • Downsville-covered-bridge

    Downsville Covered Bridge

  • Eagleville Covered Bridge May 07

    Eagleville Covered Bridge

  • Elm Street Stone Arch Bridge, Pine Hill, NY

    Elm Street Stone Arch Bridge

  • Fitches Covered Bridge Nov 04

    Fitches Covered Bridge

  • Frazier Bridge from Lachute River

    Frazier Bridge

  • Grant Mills Covered Bridge

    Grant Mills Covered Bridge

  • Hadley Bow Bridge

    Hadley Parabolic Bridge

  • Hamden Covered Bridge May 06

    Hamden Covered Bridge

  • Hankins Stone Arch Bridge Apr 09

    Hankins Stone Arch Bridge

  • Hervey Road Stone Arch Bridge 8-13-2016

    Hervey Street Road Stone Arch Bridge

  • HarlemRiverBridges

    High Bridge Aqueduct

  • Holland tunnel

    Holland Tunnel

  • Hyde Hall Covered Bridge - west view

    Hyde Hall Covered Bridge

  • BwyWalk0505 Station125thBroadway

    IRT Broadway Line Viaduct

  • Jones Beach WantaghPkwy Approach

    Jones Beach State Park Causeway

  • Joralemon Street Tunnel postcard, 1913

    Joralemon Street Tunnel

  • KingstontoPEbridge

    Kingston-Port Ewen Suspension Bridge

  • Lower Shavertown Covered Bridge Back

    Lower Shavertown Covered Bridge

  • Main Street Bridge, Main Street East, spanning Genesee River, Rochester (Monroe County, New York)

    Main Street Bridge

  • Manhattan Bridge 2007

    Manhattan Bridge

  • Mill Street Stone Arch Bridge, Pine Hill, NY

    Mill Street Stone Arch Bridge

  • SkinnersFallsMilanvilleBridge

    Millanville-Skinners Falls Bridge

  • Newfield Covered Bridge Feb 10

    Newfield Covered Bridge

  • Stone bridge Newport N. Y. (below the bridge), from Robert N. Dennis collection of stereoscopic views

    Newport Stone Arch Bridge

  • Notman Bridge, Keene, New York

    Notman Bridge

  • BlenheimBridge HAER cropped

    Old Blenheim Bridge

  • Old City Road Stone Arch Bridge

    Old City Road Stone Arch Bridge

  • Ouaquaga Bridge, Dutchtown Road, spanning Susquehanna River, Ouaquaga (Broome County, New York)

    Ouaquaga Lenticular Truss Bridge

  • Perrine's bridge

    Perrine's Bridge

  • Pilgrims Progress Road Bridge, Rhinebeck NY

    Pilgrim's Progress Road Bridge

  • Pond Eddy Bridge from the Pennsylvania side

    Pond Eddy Bridge

  • Poughkeepsie Bridge 115997

    Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge

  • Queensboro Bridge closeup

    Queensboro Bridge

  • Ranney Bridge, Keene Valley, New York

    Ranney Bridge

  • Rexleigh Covered Bridge Dec 10

    Rexleigh Covered Bridge

  • Route 29 Stone Arch Bridge

    Route 29 Stone Arch Bridge

  • Malta Ruhle Road Lenticular Truss Bridge 1

    Ruhle Road Lenticular Metal Truss Bridge

  • Salisbury Covered Bridge May 08

    Salisbury Center Covered Bridge

  • Salisbury Turnpike Bridge, Rhinebeck NY

    Salisbury Turnpike Bridge

  • SHUSHAN COVERED BRIDGE

    Shushan Covered Bridge

  • BingSWashingtonBridge

    South Washington Street Parabolic Bridge

  • Sparkill Creek Drawbridge, Spanning Sparkill Creek at Bridge Street, Piermont (Rockland County, New York)

    Sparkill Creek Drawbridge

  • Stillwater Bridge 2008

    Stillwater Bridge

  • Keeseville Stone Bridge

    Stone Arch Bridge (Keeseville)

  • Stone Arch Bridge, Kenoza Lake NY

    Stone Arch Bridge (Kenoza Lake)

  • Keeseville suspension bridge

    Swing Bridge

  • Tioronda Bridge from west

    Tioronda Bridge

  • Walton Bridge Keene New York

    Walton Bridge

  • Wash Br square truss jeh

    Washington Bridge

  • Normanskill Farm Bridge, Albany, NY, deck view from west

    Whipple Cast and Wrought Iron Bowstring Truss Bridge

  • Woodward Road Stone Arch Bridge 8-12-2016

    Woodward Road Stone Arch Bridge

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    Park Avenue Viaduct

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    Ruhle Road Stone Arch Bridge

  • Wanakena Footbridge

    Wanakena Footbridge

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List of bridges and tunnels on the National Register of Historic Places in New York Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.