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King's Bridge Plaque
King's Bridge Plaque
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Plaque on the modern Kings Bridge commemorating the original bridge on same site, New York City, undated (ca.1914-1919). Emulsion damage.

1914

King's Bridge Plaque

Plaque on the modern Kings Bridge commemorating the original bridge on same site, New York City, undated (ca.1914-1919). Emulsion damage.

IMAGE DATE1914
FromNew-York Historical Society logoNew-York Historical Society

This plaque commemorates King's Bridge, one of the oldest bridges in New York City. The bridge connected Manhattan Island to the mainland over the narrowest point of Spuyten Duyvil Creek, which was a mere 4-feet in width. The first version of the bridge was built in 1693 by Frederick Philipse at what was known as "Wading Place" by Native Americans who lived in the area.

The government sought to straighten the unruly Spuyten Duyvil in the 19th century and the four-foot span of the creek would be covered and rerouted to a wider area that could accommodate larger boats. The creek here was filled in 1913, according to photographs from the Municipal Archives collection. This plaque is located on a now-nonexistent crossing of Broadway between Manhattan and the Bronx.

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