There are more than 600,000 bridges in America. Many of them are incredible feats of modern engineering, while others are steeped in history. Here we take you on a virtual tour of the most impressive bridge in every US state and DC.
Click through the gallery to discover the most amazing bridges in America, from creaking wooden walkways crossing plunging forest valleys to enormous road bridges spanning sweeping stretches of sea...
This bridge is a pivotal stop on the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail, and has gone down in history as the scene of 'Bloody Sunday'. On 7 March 1965, activists marched to demand the vote for Black people and when they reached the Edmund Pettus Bridge, the 600 Civil Rights protesters were pushed back by police using tear gas and force. Seventeen people were seriously injured and now the bridge is a National Historic Landmark.
The hair-raising Hurricane Gulch Bridge rises some 296 feet (90m) above the Hurricane Creek in southern Alaska and spreads out for a whopping 918 feet (85m), making it the longest and tallest bridge on the Alaska Railroad. When it was erected in 1921 it was considered a true wonder of engineering and remains a head-turning sight today.
An impressive feat to behold, this steel-arch bridge extends across the rust-red Glen Canyon in northern Arizona. In 1965, construction began on the Glen Canyon Dam, which was intended to provide water storage for southwest states including Utah and New Mexico. Soaring 700 feet (213m) above the water below, the bridge allowed for materials to be transported across the canyon while the dam was being built.
This graceful suspension bridge near Eureka Springs straddles the White River and has earned itself the moniker 'the little Golden Gate' for its likeness to the San Francisco landmark. It’s much smaller than its Californian cousin at just over 550 feet (168m) long and 11 feet (3.4m) wide. Photogenic Beaver Bridge has also found its way onto the silver screen, most notably in 2005 comedy-drama Elizabethtown.
Perhaps the most famous bridge in America, this epic San Francisco icon soars over the waters of the Golden Gate strait. It stretches for 1.7 miles (2.7km) and was the world’s longest and tallest suspension bridge when first completed in 1937. The structure – instantly recognizable for its unique shade of 'international orange' – is eye-catching from every angle.
This lofty bridge near Canon City has a head for heights – it soars to 955 feet (291m), straddling the walls of the rugged, red gorge. It was completed in 1929 but is young in comparison to the gorge itself, which has been carved over millions of years by the Arkansas River.
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An elegant double arch spanning the Connecticut River, the Arrigoni Bridge was built to the tune of $3.5 million back in 1938. It’s not a case of style over substance though: the bridge spans the important route between Middletown and Portland. The steel structure was named after Charles J Arrigoni, the legislator who pioneered the project.
The hulking Delaware Memorial Bridge links the Diamond State to New Jersey. An attractive twin suspension, it's dedicated to those from both Delaware and New Jersey who were killed in combat during the Second World War and in other major conflicts. Not far from the bridge lies the Veteran’s Memorial Park which includes a monument inscribed with the names of the fallen.
This symbolic structure, which opened in 1932, is widely regarded as the capital's most beautiful bridge. The Arlington Memorial Bridge was designed to represent national unity post-Civil War by connecting Washington's Lincoln Memorial with the Robert E Lee Memorial and Arlington House in Arlington, Virginia. The low bridge spans the Potomac River, stretching out for 2,163 feet (659m).
Jutting through an expanse of brilliant blue, this concrete bridge seems to stretch for hundreds of miles. But, as the name suggests, it continues for just under seven (11km), joining up the idyllic Florida Keys. The landmark is actually two separate bridges. The older of the two, a bike-and-pedestrian bridge opened in 1912, was closed for repairs in 2014 and reopened in 2022.
Swaying at 80 feet (24m) above the white waters of the Tallulah River, this dizzying bridge is the backdrop for the thundering Hurricane Falls. But we think its elegant wooden expanse is a sight to behold in and of itself.
Affectionately known as 'the Rainbow Bridge' for its double arch, this concrete structure straddles the Anahulu Stream in Haleiwa. The current structure has been here since 1921, replacing the wooden pile that stood before it.
This simple but attractive truss bridge stretches over the Snake River, close to Twin Falls. It’s almost 1,500 feet (457m) long and is bookended by a rugged canyon. The rust-red structure is impressive whichever way you look at it.
Spanning the Chicago River in the heart of the Windy City, this striking structure is also known as the Michigan Avenue Bridge, as it extends Michigan Avenue across the water. But, since 2010, the official name of this structure has been the DuSable Bridge, after Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, thought to be Chicago's first permanent resident. Nestled among some of the city’s tallest skyscrapers, the bridge opens up gracefully if large boats need to pass underneath.
The state of Indiana has oodles of covered bridges but this is the most famous and is widely considered the most beautiful. Built in 1876, the bridge is in the Lieber State Recreation Area. The structure is named after the Cataract Falls, two terraced waterfalls that together are the largest in the state.
Legend has it that Kate Shelley saved a trainload of people from plummeting to their deaths after a storm destroyed a section of railroad near Honey Creek. She risked her life by crawling along the remaining train trestle to the closest depot, sounding the alarm and halting a passenger train she knew to be approaching. This bridge was completed some 20 years later in 1901, and was named after Shelley to commemorate her actions.
This striking bridge in Wichita is named after the steel sculpture that stands beside it. The 44-foot-tall (13.4m) statue depicts an Indigenous chief and, come nightfall, is surrounded by a ring of fire. It was designed by artist and sculptor Blackbear Bosin, who himself hailed from the Great Plains. The bridge is a bold cable-stayed structure which connects the statue to the mainland.
Having been decommissioned in the 1960s, this dramatic Louisville bridge was renovated and reopened to pedestrians in 2013. It is named after a now-disused railroad which connected the major cities of Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago, and St Louis. Stretching for half a mile (0.8km), the bridge is most impressive at night, when it’s lit up in brilliant colors which dart off the Ohio river and highlight its intricate iron frame.
Made up of two seemingly endless concrete bridges, the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway is a jaw-dropping sight. It’s the longest bridge outside of Asia and nearly all of its 24-mile (39km) expanse spans Lake Pontchartrain. For at least eight of these miles (13km) you can’t see land at all.
The towering twin peaks of this bridge near Stockton Springs are a great source of pride for locals, and the sleek structure gets civil engineers excited too. The towers' bold design is intended to resemble the Washington monument. It was also the first bridge in the States to install an observatory and is one of only four bridge observatories in the world.
This bridge sprawls across Chesapeake Bay, soaring to 186 feet (57m) and stretching for more than four miles (6km). Officially named the William Preston Lane Jr Memorial Bridge, it's infamous for poor visibility when bad weather hits.
A blanket of flowers covers this otherwise unassuming bridge in Shelburne Falls every summer. More than 500 types of plant adorn its graceful arches in season, and they have done so for an impressive 90 years. It was originally a trolley bridge and now usually only opens seasonally.
Affectionately known as 'the Big Mac', this mammoth suspension bridge stretches over the Straits of Mackinac. It was finished in 1957, connecting Michigan’s two peninsulas. Spreading out over five miles (8km), its twin spans are a truly impressive sight.
Sleek and futuristic, this bridge is one of Minneapolis's most-photographed sights. It’s a rainbow by night, lit up in brilliant shades of blue and violet and mirrored in the Mississippi River. The current bridge has stood here since 2012 and its design was described by its architects (Wisconsin-based construction firm Lunda) as a "basket handle." Two bridges of the same name preceded this one, both steel truss bridges, bold in their design but not as elegant as the current structure.
This cantilever bridge has spanned the Mississippi River since the late 1920s. Once open to both traffic and pedestrians, it’s now an important railway bridge connecting Vicksburg in Mississippi to Delta in the state of Louisiana.
The old and new Chain of Rocks bridges run parallel to one another, connecting Missouri’s St Louis to the state of Illinois. The former, an eye-catching cantilevered truss bridge, is unique for the sharp bend that occurs as it approaches the mainland. The latter is plainer in design but still striking.
This bridge is the longest and highest in Montana – but it’s anything but imposing. Pale green in color, it’s practically the same hue as the glassy Lake Koocanusa which swirls below. It leads to the unspoiled Yaak Valley with its lush forests and lakes.
Affectionately known as 'Bob', this dramatic bridge spans the Missouri River, with sweeping panoramas of downtown Omaha. Its 3,000-foot (914m) expanse is suspended in the air by cables and it was the first pedestrian-only bridge to join two states (Nebraska and Iowa) when it opened in 2008. It also arches into Iowa's leafy Council Bluffs.
Most visitors are in awe of the vast Hoover Dam, but the bypass bridge that straddles it is worthy of the same attention. It is named after two men. The first, Mike O’Callaghan, was a former governor of Nevada; the second, Pat Tillman, was a pro American football player killed in military service in Afghanistan in 2004. A simple concrete curve, it spreads over the Black Canyon, soaring 900 feet (274m) above the Colorado River below.
Built in 1866, this elegant covered bridge in the New Hampshire countryside crosses the Connecticut River. It was robbed of its 'longest covered bridge in America' title in 2008, when Ohio’s more modern Smolen-Gulf Bridge was completed. However, it retains a sense of romance that its Ohio cousin can’t compete with, and its lattice interior is impressive too.
A 3.5-mile (5.6km) cantilever bridge between Newark and Jersey City, Pulaski Skyway is named after Casimir Pulaski. A Polish-born soldier, Pulaski is revered for his efforts in the fight for American independence during the 18th century. The bridge has had a small screen moment too when it was included in the intro to popular US drama series The Sopranos.
This New Mexico structure is also known as 'High Bridge' – and for good reason. A stone’s throw from the ancient pueblos of Taos, this bridge spans the rugged Rio Grande Gorge, rising to a lofty 565 feet (172m). It’s reached by Highway 64 and its movie-star good looks have earned it appearances in several films, most notably 1994 thriller Natural Born Killers.
A cable-stayed suspension bridge with proud concrete towers at either end, Brooklyn Bridge has linked the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and Manhattan (once separate cities) since 1883. It was a marvel of engineering when it was completed (it took more than a decade to build) and the passing decades have done nothing to dim its sense of awe.
This sky-high bridge in Grandfather Mountain State Park is tipped as the highest suspension footbridge in the country. A mile (1.6km) above sea level, it sways with the slightest gust. It provides the foreground to the park’s namesake mountain – a near 6,000-foot (1,829m) peak.
This historic railroad bridge could have been pulled straight from an old Western movie. It was completed more than a hundred years ago, in 1908, and beats an unswerving path across the Sheyenne River in Valley City. Held at its 162-foot (49m) height by 30 hardy towers, the bridge was pivotal during the Second World War as supplies and soldiers were transported over the river from coast to coast. It was closely guarded during the entire conflict.
This proud bridge spans the Ohio River, reaching from Cincinnati, Ohio to Covington, Kentucky. Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1975, it was engineered by its namesake, renowned civil engineer John A Roebling, whose other feats include the famous Brooklyn Bridge in New York City.
Oklahoma City’s Skydance Bridge is dominated by a striking sculpture. It's a nod to Oklahoma’s state bird, the beautiful scissor-tailed flycatcher. The bridge's name comes from the unique dance that the bird does while in flight, which sees it splay its feathers in a V-shape to attract a mate. Finished in 2012, the bridge extends for 380 feet (116m).
The longest truss bridge in the States, the Astoria-Megler was dedicated in 1966. It spans the Columbia River, connecting the states of Washington and Oregon, and upon its completion it also became the final link in the highway system connecting Mexico to Canada. Special events marked its 50th birthday back in 2016, including a dedicated exhibition at the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum.
This pretty bridge has had a tumultuous history. Hovering over Marsh Creek in Adams County, the bridge dates back to 1854 and was used by both Union and Confederate soldiers during the Civil War’s bloody Battle of Gettysburg. Legend has it the bridge is haunted, with believers reporting an eerie mist floating in its interior.
The longest suspension bridge in New England, this structure, also known as the Newport Bridge, soars over Narragansett Bay. Bedecked with lights, it stretches out for two miles (3km), connecting Jamestown to well-heeled Newport. The bridge is named after Claiborne Pell, who served as a Rhode Island senator for six terms.
The twin spans of this dramatic cable-stayed bridge wow by day and night. A relatively new addition to the Charleston skyline, it was completed in 2005 and is named after the politician who led the project.
A bridge was first built here way back in the 1920s, but the current striking structure is the result of a major update in 1953, which saw an extra span added. The bridge links the South Dakota towns of Chamberlain and Oacoma, and was once a vital route for farmers transporting wheat and other produce.
This bridge in Chattanooga has a poignant history. Two Black men were mobbed and lynched (in unrelated incidents some 13 years apart) for purported violence against a white woman. The structure serves as a reminder of these abhorrent incidents of racial violence, and has earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places.
A modern masterpiece in downtown Dallas, this bridge was completed in 2011 by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. The structure has transformed the city's skyline: a soaring central arch reaches 400 feet (122m), with cables splaying artfully from it.
Utah is best-known for its natural bridges but this man-made landmark gives them a run for their money. Spanning the Colorado River, the Hite Crossing Bridge, a graceful bow of steel along the scenic Route 95, was dedicated in 1966. It is named after Hite, a remote region close to Lake Powell.
Vermont is another New England state famous for its covered bridges. This one has been straddling the Walloomsac River since the 1840s, spreading across 88 feet (27m) with intricate latticed detailing in its interior. In fall, its orange-red expanse blends beautifully with the surrounding foliage.
This bridge-tunnel has been showered with accolades since its completion in 1964, and has even been touted as one of the seven engineering wonders of the modern world. As the name suggests, it serves as both a bridge and a tunnel, with its expanse beginning over water before gradually dropping into the bay. Shore to shore it stretches out for a mammoth 17.6 miles (28km).
While this concrete bridge is not the prettiest in America, it is one of the highest at 325 feet (99m) above the ground. Consisting of a sturdy twin arch, the bridge has spanned Selah Creek since 1971, and was the largest concrete arch bridge in the US when it was first completed.
This bridge gets points for both style and location. Stretching for 3,030 feet (924m), the understated steel arch crosses the New River Gorge in Fayette County, tucked into the lush Appalachian Mountains. It's one of West Virginia's most photographed sights and was even chosen to represent the state on a commemorative quarter created by the US Mint in 2006.
It may not turn heads at first, but this is the last surviving covered bridge in the state of Wisconsin, which was once home to more than 40. Its weathered pine and oak expanse with a typical latticed interior has stood here since 1876, crossing the Cedar Creek in Cedarburg, Ozaukee County.
Located in a sought-after spot in Yellowstone National Park, this 1937 structure is named for its former popularity as a fishing spot. However, the population of the cutthroat trout (which spawns here) declined dramatically, so fishing was eventually banned.
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