Walnut Street Bridge (Chattanooga) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Walnut Street Bridge
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 Location in Tennessee
Location in the United States
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| Location | Walnut St., over the Tennessee River, Chattanooga, Tennessee |
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| Area | 1.6 acres (0.65 ha) |
| Built | 1890 |
| Architect | Edwin Thacher |
| Architectural style | Camelback truss, modified |
| NRHP reference No. | 90000300 |
| Added to NRHP | February 23, 1990 |
The Walnut Street Bridge in Chattanooga, Tennessee, was built in 1890. It was the first bridge to connect downtown Chattanooga with North Chattanooga. This bridge is 2,376 feet (724 m) long. It is a very old and important example of its kind. It was likely the first non-military road bridge across the Tennessee River.
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Building the Walnut Street Bridge
The main engineer for the Walnut Street Bridge was Edwin Thacher. A company called Smith Bridge Company from Toledo, Ohio, built the top part of the bridge. They were famous for building many bridges in the late 1800s.
The bottom parts of the bridge were built by Neeley, Smith, and Company from Chattanooga. Most of the bridge pieces were made by Manly Jail Works in Dalton, Georgia. These parts were then sent to the bridge site by train.
William Andrew Slayton helped build the stone parts of the bridge. He was a former Union officer from Ann Arbor, Michigan. He lived in a stone house nearby and could see the project from his window. Some of the smaller stone walls in North Chattanooga are made from leftover stones from the bridge.
The Walnut Street Bridge was sometimes called the "county bridge." It connected the city on the south side of the Tennessee River with the large workforce on the north side. This area was known as Hill City, which later became part of Chattanooga in 1912.
Restoring the Bridge
The bridge was closed to cars in 1978. It was not used for almost ten years and started to fall apart. Later, people decided to fix it up. They turned it into a walkway for people.
The Walnut Street Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 23, 1990. This means it is an important historical site. The 2,376 feet (724 m) pedestrian bridge is now a key part of a big city improvement project.
From December 2009 to May 2010, the old asphalt surface of the bridge was replaced. New wood planks were put down instead. This repair work cost about $1.3 million.
A group called Chattanooga Venture started a fund to help restore the bridge. After the restoration, the extra money was used for more improvements. This included replacing old plaques that were damaged or stolen. New plaques are now offered to people who donate to The Parks Foundation. This group helps improve parks and public spaces.
Fun Events on the Bridge
The Walnut Street Bridge is a popular spot for many community events.
Wine over Water
"Wine over Water" is a wine tasting event held on the bridge. It started in 1994. People can taste over 150 wines from around the world. Local restaurants also offer tasty food. Musicians play jazz and bluegrass music. Tickets for this event sell out quickly because it is so popular.
Riverbend Festival Fireworks
Every summer, Chattanooga hosts the Riverbend Festival. Country and rock bands play music for the city. On the last night of the festival, there is a big fireworks show. The bridge is used to create a beautiful "waterfall" of fireworks that fall into the river below. Boats are not allowed too close to the bridge during the fireworks.
Marathons and Triathlons
The Seven Bridges Marathon takes place in Chattanooga. Runners use the Walnut Street Bridge as part of their race course. Both local people and tourists enjoy the amazing views of the river from the bridge.
Chattanooga has also hosted the Ironman triathlon several times. This is a famous race held all over the world. Athletes use the Walnut Street Bridge during the running part of the Ironman race.
Walnut Street Bridge in the Structurae database
