Article ID: CBB483397256

Surviving Cast- and Wrought-Iron Bridges in America (1993)

unapi

Eric DeLony (Author)


IA. The Journal of the Society for Industrial Archeology
Volume: 19
Issue: 2
Pages: 17-47


Publication Date: 1993
Edition Details: THEME ISSUE: CAST AND WROUGHT-IRON BRIDGES
Language: English

Only 74 cast- and wrought-iron bridges survive of the thousands built between 1840 and 1880. They were a type that spanned the gap between wood and steel. This article chronicles these irreplaceable structures that derived from both a craft tradition and scientific engineering. They were the products of country blacksmiths and "state-of-the-art" bridge works; the designs of crofters, millwrights, and mechanics—unschooled "apple-tree engineers"—and the first specialist to emerge from the engineering profession—the bridge engineer. They exemplify fundamental American values of craft, entrepreneurialism, and creativity. They helped Americans cross thousands of streams and rivers, reach new markets, and create new businesses as the frontier moved west. These artifacts of the American landscape, both urban and rural, are threatened with extinction if not saved soon.

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Associated with

Article Emory L. Kemp (1993) The Introduction of Cast and Wrought Iron in Bridge Building. IA. The Journal of the Society for Industrial Archeology (pp. 5-16). unapi

Citation URI
https://data.isiscb.org/isis/citation/CBB483397256/

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Authors & Contributors
Darnell, Victor C.
Kemp, Emory L.
Louis W. Potts
Gray Fitzsimons
Eric DeLony
Richard K. Anderson
Concepts
Industrial archaeology
Bridges
Civil engineering
Bridges, Truss
Design
Bridges--Design and construction
Time Periods
19th century
20th century
Places
United States
Berkshire mountains
New Hampshire (U.S.)
Seattle (Washington, U.S.)
Michigan (U.S.)
Québec (Canada)
Institutions
U.S. Dept. of the Interior, National Park Service, Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record
Berlin Iron Bridge Compoany
Pennsylvania Railroad
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company
Berlin Iron Bridge Company
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