South of Union Square
Menu
Address
Share
Near 240 West 167th Street
Posts & Stories
(7)
High Bridge
Post
View of Washington Bridge with High Bridge in the foreground, viewed from the Bronx side, 1913.
High Bridge
Post
Opened in 1842, High Bridge is New York city's oldest surviving bridge. A preeminent example of yankee ingenuity in conquering tremendous technological obstacles, it was designed by and its construction overseen by John Bloomfield Jervis, chief engineer of the Erie Canal. Jervis, for whom Port Jervis, New York was named, created a Roman-style aqueduct to carry water from the Croton Aqueduct pipes over the Harlem River from The Bronx to Manhattan, overcoming problems of varying land levels and difficult rock formations on both sides. Its beauty and innovative technology made the bridge an instant attraction for visitors, especially engineers from the United States and abroad, and a popular subject for painters and printmakers. The Croton enterprise introduced water from an upstate source to a rapidly growing New York City. Having crossed High Bridge, the Croton pipes continued down through Manhattan the the distributing reservoir at 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue. In 1927, when neighbors of High Bridge on both the Bronx and the Manhattan sides protested the proposed demolition of the bridge to enable movement of large naval vessels through the Harlem River, the compromise was the removal of five arches. This modification altered the appearance of the graceful structure, but saved it as a walkway. In a sense, High Bridge is a very early example of preservation. Although the bridge was designated a landmark by the New York Landmarks Commission in 1970, today it is fenced off.
High Bridge Branch, NYPL
Post
High Bridge Branch of the New York Public Library, 1933. Designed by Carrère & Hastings and opened in 1908, the original High Bridge Branch was demolished in 1975. It was replaced by a new library building on the same site, which according to sources was dark and airless. The branch underwent extensive renovations between 2007 and 2010 with the roof being raised to make for a larger space with generous windows.
High Bridge, Washington Heights Side
Post
View of Washington Bridge, from the Manhattan side of the High Bridge, 1926. The Harlem River Speedway is visible along the water's edge.
High Bridge
Post
High bridge, viewed from the Bronx side, 1892. Built between 1837 and 1848, the original stone arch bridge was designed to carry fresh water, via the Croton Aqueduct without impeding shipping traffic on the Harlem River below. In 1864, a pedestrian walkway was added to the bridge. In 1929, five of the masonry arches above the river were replaced with a single steel arch, simplifying navigation. The bridge continued to carry Manhattan-bound drinking water until 1949. After water supply use was discontinued, the promenade was closed due to safety and vandalism concerns in the 1970s. A refurbished walkway reopened in June 2015.
FDNY Engine 68
Post
FDNY Engine 68, Mack truck from 1978.
Crossing the Harlem River in the 19th Century
Story
First navigated by the Lenape, and then owned by the Dutch, the "Harlaem" River has long been a waterway important to the history of New York. This story highlights some of the structures built over the Harlem to connect Manhattan to the broader world.
Photos
(109)
240 West 167th Street
Highbridges Garden Houses
Highbridges Garden Houses, Highbridges, Manhattan, New York City Housing Authority Photo of Highbridges seen from across the Harlem River was a project under the New York City Housing Authority for which Poy Gum Lee was a project advisor/supervising architect.
1131 Ogden Avenue
Highbridge House, Ogden Avenue and West 166th Street, Washington Avenue \[Construction exteriors and interiors; views from the street and from neighboring building; men laying tar on roof; men taking measurments and installing building materials.]
1131 Ogden Avenue
Bronx: Ogden Avenue - 166th Street (West) 1131 Ogden Ave., west side, between West 166th and West 167th Streets. About 1923. W. B. Vernam.
FDNY Engine 68
Union Reformed Church of Highbridge
1327 Plimpton Avenue
1327 Plimpton Avenue, Bronx, January 4, 1915 \[i.e. 1916]. Photographed for Joseph P. Day.
High Bridge
Mounted police officer Fitzgerald on the Speedway under High Bridge, undated (ca. 1911).
High Bridge
Board of Water Supply. Old Croton Aqueduct; High Bridge. View looking northwest. The High Bridge during construction of City Water Tunnel No. 1, before Harlem River Drive and the Major Deegan Expressway were built and the river span was replaced with a steel arch. The bridge first carried clean water to New York City via the Old Croton Aqueduct in 1848. May 12, 1916.
High Bridge
The Speedway, Looking North from High Bridge, N.Y.
High Bridge
High Bridge & Washington Bridge, N.Y.
High Bridge
Bridges - High Bridge - \[Looking west across the Harlem River toward Highbridge Park, Manhattan from the Bronx.] High Bridge, looking west across the Harlem River toward Highbridge Park, Manhattan, from the Bronx shore. View 2 is north on the river. Note the old water tower. View 1: Eugene L. Armbruster Collection 1923 View 2: P. L. Sperr 1939
High Bridge
High Bridge and the Speedway, Highbridge Park at West 174th Street, \[1910?].
High Bridge
Bridges - High Bridge. Neg. B-12 - B-15 Bridges - Highbridge c.1930 E.L. Armbruster - photographer
High Bridge
Board of Water Supply. Old Croton Aqueduct; High Bridge. View looking southwest. The flow of the Old Croton Aqueduct is carried across the Harlem River on an imposing structure known as High Bridge which is located about opposite 174th Street, Manhattan. Pipes are placed in the upper part of the structure to carry the flow of the aqueduct. The cost of this bridge was about 1,000,000 dollars. A few hundred feet to the north of this bridge, the waters of the New Croton Aqueduct flow through a tunnel constructed about 300 feet below the surface of the river. The tunnel construction is the modern economical type. At the west end of the bridge is seen the High Bridge Tower with the High Bridge Reservoir at its base. The reservoir was put into service in 1870 and the tank in the tower in 1872. the reservoir, the water surface of which is 218 feet above level, is used as an equalizing basin for the intermediate distribution service, the water for which is obtained from the Croton low service pumped at 179th Street and 98th Street stations. The tower is used as an equalizing pipe for the high service, the water being pumped at 179th Street station, the tower overflow being at an elevation of 336 feet. May 12, 1916.
High Bridge
New York Harlem River and High Bridge.
High Bridge
Bridges - High Bridge - \[Looking west across the Harlem River toward Highbridge Park, Manhattan from the Bronx.] High Bridge, looking west across the Harlem River toward Highbridge Park, Manhattan, from the Bronx shore. View 2 is north on the river. Note the old water tower. View 1: Eugene L. Armbruster Collection 1923 View 2: P. L. Sperr 1939
High Bridge
Bridges - High Bridge - \[Harlem River - Connecting Manhattan at 174th Street, Highbridge Park to the Bronx at about 170th Street.] (1) High Bridge crosses the Harlem River, in connecting Manhattan at 174th Street, High Bridge Park to the Bronx at about 170th Street. View is looking east to the Bronx, from Manhattan. Summer 1923. P. L. Sperr. Ngg Nw N. 227 The same, from a slightly different angle. Summer 1923. P. L. Sperr. ,., Neg N 221 The same, from still another angle. Summner 1923. P. L. Sperr.
High Bridge
Bridges - High Bridge. Neg. B-12 - B-15 Bridges - Highbridge c.1930 E.L. Armbruster - photographer
High Bridge
Bridges - High Bridge. Neg. B-12 - B-15 Bridges - Highbridge c.1930 E.L. Armbruster - photographer
High Bridge
Board of Water Supply. Old Croton Aqueduct; High Bridge. View looking southwest. The High Bridge during construction of City Water Tunnel No. 1, before Harlem River Drive and the Major Deegan Expressway were built and the river span was replaced with a steel arch. The bridge first carried clean water to New York City via the Old Croton Aqueduct in 1848. A few hundred feet to the north of the bridge, the waters of the New Croton Aqueduct flow through a tunnel constructed about 300 feet below the surface of the river. The reservoir was put into service in 1870 and the tank in the tower in 1872. May 12, 1916.
High Bridge
Harlem River, New York
High Bridge
Manhattan: High Bridge, viewed from the northeast, undated.
High Bridge
Bridges - High Bridge - \[Harlem River - Looking toward Manhattan side and Highbridge Park from the Bronx.] High Bridge over the Harlem River, looking toward the Manhattan side and Highbridge Park from the Bronx. May Be Reproduced About 1903 Neg # 356
High Bridge
The Speedway, New York Primary subject: Speedway Secondary subject: Highbridge
High Bridge
Manhattan: High Bridge Park. High Bridge Park: Three views showing mainly the new improvements that have recently been completed. They consist of the distinctive new highway linking the Harlem River Driveway with the Hudson Rivers George Washington Bridge, and the new swimming pool. Close observatixn will disclose the latter in the center. Buildings on the left fronts on Amsterdam Avenue. Those on the right are in the Bronx. June 20, 1940 Views 1,2,3 P. L. Sperr
High Bridge
High Bridge over the Speedway and Harlem River, New York City, undated (ca. 1912).
High Bridge
Manhattan: View of High Bridge, looking west from the Bronx, undated.
High Bridge
New York City, Highbridge.
High Bridge
High Bridge Harlem River, N.Y. City
High Bridge
Speedway, High & Washington Bridges, New York
High Bridge
High Bridge & Washington Bridge, N.Y.
High Bridge
Bridges - High Bridge. (1) High Bridge, followed by Washington Bridge, spans the Harlem River. August 31, 1926. P. L. Sperr. (2) The same, from a slightly different angle. August 31, 1926. P. L. Sperr. (3) The same, from a further angle. August 31, 1926. P. L. Sperr.
High Bridge
Bridges - High Bridge - \[Spans the Harlem River at the Manhattan 175th Street.] (1) High Bridge, spans the Harlem River at 175th Street. The Washington Bridge is seen further nerth. April 8, 1934. P. L. Sperr. (2) Approximately the same view, eleven years earlier. October 1923. Eugene L. Armbruster, Collection.
High Bridge
High Bridge, New York
High Bridge
High Bridge & Croton Waterworks, N.Y. City
High Bridge
The Speedway & Highbridge, N.Y. City
High Bridge
Bridges - High Bridge. Bridges: Highbridge. July - Aug. 1954. N.Y. Central R.R. Station, and Construction on the Major Deegan Expressway. for the Alexander Hamilton Bridge G. Pohl, photographer
High Bridge
High Bridge from the East, New York.
High Bridge
High Bridge and Speedway, New York.
High Bridge
High Bridge, New York City.
High Bridge
View of Harlem River, New York.
High Bridge
Approach to the High Bridge
High Bridge
High Bridge over the Speedway and Harlem River, New York City, undated (ca. 1912).
High Bridge
High Bridge & Croton Waterworks, N.Y. City
High Bridge
View of the Harlem River looking north from the Putnam Bridge at 155th Street, ca. 1910.
High Bridge
The Speedway and Highbridge, NY City
High Bridge
High Bridge, N. Y. City
High Bridge
View of Harlem River, New York.
High Bridge
High Bridge over the Speedway and Harlem River, New York City, undated (ca. 1912).
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service
Open Map
