Niagara's Earliest Bridges

The history of bridge building in Niagara Falls goes back to the mid 1850’s when it was noted that a suitable means of traveling back and forth between the two countries was needed. Before this travelers could cross via small boats, which would be reached by a ladder or a crude set of stairs that descended down the gorge.

Eventually a ferry service was employed to take people back and forth but this too was time consuming and did not allow for the travel of goods or horses. In 1846 the first bridge company was organized and in 1848 The Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge Company was incorporated and the first bridge to span the United States and Canada was completed and officially opened on August 1, 1848.

This bridge was approximately 10 feet wide and 762 feet (232m) long. It had a heavy oak plank floor suspended some 200 feet above the river below. Four massive pine wooden towers, two on each side and eighty feet in height were built to hold the cables that would suspend the bridge.

In 1853 the Great Western Railroad was constructed all the way to the Niagara River and actions were taken to convert the bridge to allow for railway traffic. John Roebling was appointed head engineer and by 1855 trains were passing between the two countries.