Stone Bridge (Hartford, Connecticut) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Stone Bridge
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Main St. over Whitehead Hwy., Hartford, Connecticut |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1833 |
| MPS | Hartford Downtown MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 85000793 |
| Added to NRHP | March 28, 1985 |
The Stone Bridge is a very old and important bridge in Hartford, Connecticut. It carries Main Street over the Whitehead Highway, just south of the city center. Built way back in 1833 over the Park River, it was the biggest stone bridge in the whole United States when it was finished! Because of its history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
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What is the Stone Bridge?
The Stone Bridge is located in Hartford, Connecticut. It helps Main Street cross over the Whitehead Highway. This highway is a special road that connects Interstate 91 to the area where the state capitol building is.
How Does the Bridge Work Today?
The Whitehead Highway actually runs over a hidden tunnel. This tunnel carries the Park River underground to the nearby Connecticut River. So, the bridge you see today crosses over this highway, which is built on top of the river's path.
What Does the Bridge Look Like?
The bridge is made from a type of stone called brownstone. It looks like a curved arch, but it was originally a rounder arch when the river flowed openly beneath it. The bridge is quite large, stretching about 104 feet (32 meters) long and 100 feet (30 meters) wide. Stone walls, called parapets, line the sides of the road on the bridge. These walls once had fancy iron railings on top.
A Look Back: The Bridge's History
There has been a bridge at this spot for a very long time, even since the 1600s! Before the current stone bridge, earlier bridges were made of wood.
When Was the Stone Bridge Built?
The Stone Bridge we see today was built in 1833. It cost about $30,000 to build, which was a lot of money back then! A local builder named Elias Rathbun was in charge of the project.
How Was the Bridge Changed Over Time?
When the bridge was first built, it was much higher above the river, about 30 feet (9 meters) up. This meant the roads leading to the bridge had to be raised too. The Stone Bridge quickly became a famous landmark in Hartford. You can even see it in old pictures of the city!
Later, in 1955, the Park River was put into an underground tunnel. Then, from 1955 to 1957, the Whitehead Highway was built on top of the river's new path. Also, the Hartford Public Library was built right next to the bridge, which led to one of the original iron railings being removed.
