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A Brief History
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1868 - An article in the Poughkeepsie Journal introduced the idea of building a railroad bridge across the Hudson.
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1871 - The Poughkeepsie railroad bridge was chartered.
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1873 - The first cornerstone of the bridge was laid.
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1888 - The bridge opened in December and was considered a technological wonder.
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1889 - Trains started crossing and at that time it was the longest bridge in the world.
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World War II - through the war, the bridge carried troops to be shipped overseas. At it's height, 3,500 train cars crossed the bridge on a daily basis.
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1974 - Fire severely damaged the tracks, ending almost a century of continuous use.
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1992 - Walkway Over the Hudson began its efforts to provide public access to the bridge and link rail trails on both sides of the Hudson.
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1998 - Walkway Over the Hudson assumed ownership of the bridge.
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2007 - Walkway Over the Hudson partnered with the Dyson Foundation to access public and private funding in order to transform the bridge into the world's largest pedestrian park.
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2008 - After a groundbreaking held in May, construction work began to transform the bridge into a pedestrian park.
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2009 - Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park opens to the public, October 3, 2009.
Publications
- Bridging the Hudson, by Carleton Mabee (excerpt): "The Poughkeepsie railroad bridge was the first bridge to be built over the Hudson River from the ocean all the way up to Albany. It was a technological wonder. Opened in 1889 soon after the Brooklyn Bridge opened, it is not only higher above the water than the Brooklyn Bridge, and founded deeper in the water, but also longer. When it opened, its promoters claimed it was the longest bridge in the world."
Call the Walkway office at 845-454-9649 to order.
A Brief History
-
1868 - An article in the Poughkeepsie Journal introduced the idea of building a railroad bridge across the Hudson.
-
1871 - The Poughkeepsie railroad bridge was chartered.
-
1873 - The first cornerstone of the bridge was laid.
-
1888 - The bridge opened in December and was considered a technological wonder.
-
1889 - Trains started crossing and at that time it was the longest bridge in the world.
-
World War II - through the war, the bridge carried troops to be shipped overseas. At it's height, 3,500 train cars crossed the bridge on a daily basis.
-
1974 - Fire severely damaged the tracks, ending almost a century of continuous use.
-
1992 - Walkway Over the Hudson began its efforts to provide public access to the bridge and link rail trails on both sides of the Hudson.
-
1998 - Walkway Over the Hudson assumed ownership of the bridge.
-
2007 - Walkway Over the Hudson partnered with the Dyson Foundation to access public and private funding in order to transform the bridge into the world's largest pedestrian park.
-
2008 - After a groundbreaking held in May, construction work began to transform the bridge into a pedestrian park.
-
2009 - Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park opens to the public, October 3, 2009.
Publications
- Bridging the Hudson, by Carleton Mabee (excerpt): "The Poughkeepsie railroad bridge was the first bridge to be built over the Hudson River from the ocean all the way up to Albany. It was a technological wonder. Opened in 1889 soon after the Brooklyn Bridge opened, it is not only higher above the water than the Brooklyn Bridge, and founded deeper in the water, but also longer. When it opened, its promoters claimed it was the longest bridge in the world."
Call the Walkway office at 845-454-9649 to order.
