Rhiannon Hendricks
The Honeymoon Bridge was an international bridge that connected Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, with Niagara Falls, New York, USA. It was also known as the Upper Steel Arch Bridge or the Falls View Bridge. The bridge was constructed between 1897 and 1898 and was the largest steel arch bridge in the world at the time. Unfortunately, the Honeymoon Bridge collapsed in 1938 due to a combination of factors, including ice accumulation and high winds, which caused a massive amount of ice to push against the bridge. The bridge's collapse and the subsequent construction of a replacement bridge, the Rainbow Bridge, have been well-documented in history. Aside from the bridge, the name Honeymoon Bridge is also associated with a card game, referring to any adaptation of Contract Bridge designed for two players.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Honeymoon Bridge, Upper Steel Arch Bridge, Falls View Bridge |
| Location | Niagara Falls |
| Countries | Canada, United States |
| Construction start date | January 1897 |
| Construction company | Pencoyd Bridge Company |
| Year of completion | 1897-98 |
| Year of collapse | 1938 |
| Reason for collapse | Ice accumulation and high winds |
| Replacement | Rainbow Bridge |
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What You'll Learn
The Honeymoon Bridge was an international bridge
The Honeymoon Bridge was the largest steel arch bridge in the world when it was completed, featuring a double track for trolley cars, as well as room for carriages and pedestrians. The bridge offered picturesque views of the falls and was considered a beautiful structure in its own right. However, its abutments were located just a few feet above the water level of the Niagara River, which created problems with ice bridges that formed during winter. Despite efforts to protect the bridge, it faced constant threats from ice accumulation, and its stability was further compromised by high winds.
In January 1938, a combination of factors, including a January thaw and strong winds, caused the water and ice levels in the river to rise to unprecedented heights. On January 25, 1938, the ice began to twist the bridge's frame, signalling its impending collapse. Spectators gathered, anticipating the event, and the media began referring to the bridge as the "Honeymoon Bridge". On January 27, 1938, at about 4:10 pm, a large piece of ice pushed the bridge off its abutment, and it collapsed into a "W" shape on the ice below.
The wreckage of the Honeymoon Bridge remained partially above the ice during the winter, attracting tourists. In April 1938, the ice thawed, and the remaining sections of the bridge sank into the river. The Rainbow Bridge was constructed shortly after to provide an international crossing at the Falls, located just north of the Honeymoon Bridge site. The new bridge featured abutments built at a higher elevation to prevent similar issues with ice.
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It was also known as the Upper Steel Arch Bridge
The Honeymoon Bridge was also known as the Upper Steel Arch Bridge. It was an international bridge that crossed the Niagara River, connecting Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, with Niagara Falls, New York, USA. The bridge was constructed in 1897-98 by the Pencoyd Bridge Company of Philadelphia. When completed, it became the largest steel arch bridge in the world.
The Upper Steel Arch Bridge was built to replace an existing suspension bridge. The contract to build the steel structure was awarded to the Pencoyd Bridge Company, but work on the abutments had already begun to avoid further delays. The abutments were constructed 14 feet closer to the American Falls than the previous bridge and only a few feet above the water level of the river. This proximity to the river would eventually lead to the bridge's destruction.
The Upper Steel Arch Bridge featured a double track for trolley cars and space for carriages and pedestrians. It was considered a beautiful structure and offered picture-perfect views of the falls. However, its location so close to the river surface created problems early on. The bridge had to be constantly protected from ice bridges that formed in the Lower Niagara River during winter. In January 1899, a large ice bridge nearly pushed the bridge off its foundation, and workers spent three weeks removing the ice to prevent major damage.
In 1925, the bridge was reinforced with lateral bracing after it swayed and caused panic among a large group of people who had assembled to watch fireworks. Despite these efforts, the Upper Steel Arch Bridge ultimately collapsed in January 1938 due to a combination of factors, including thin ice on Lake Erie, a January thaw, and high winds, which caused water and ice levels in the Lower Niagara River to rise to record heights. The bridge's collapse attracted thousands of onlookers, and its wreckage remained a popular tourist attraction until the ice bridge began to break up.
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The bridge collapsed in 1938 due to ice damage
The Upper Steel Arch Bridge, also known as the Honeymoon Bridge, was an international bridge that connected Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, with Niagara Falls, New York, USA. Built in 1897–98, it was the largest steel arch bridge in the world at the time. Unfortunately, the bridge collapsed in 1938 due to ice damage, specifically on January 27, 1938, at 4:20 pm.
The events leading up to the collapse began with a sudden wind storm on Lake Erie, which caused thin ice to form and then break apart. This combination of high winds and thawing ice resulted in large amounts of ice being pushed over the falls and into the Lower Niagara River. The river, which was already experiencing high water levels, became jammed with ice. The ice built up around the bridge's abutments, putting immense pressure on the structure.
The Honeymoon Bridge had a history of close calls with ice damage, and its abutments were particularly vulnerable due to their close proximity to the river's surface. In fact, just a few days before the collapse, on January 23, ice had already begun to accumulate around the bridge, prompting the suspension of all vehicle traffic. However, this time, the ice buildup was too much for the bridge to withstand.
As the ice pushed against the bridge, the structure began to creak and groan, signalling its impending collapse. Thousands of people gathered to witness the event, and their presence was a fortunate factor in avoiding any casualties. At 4:20 pm, the bridge finally succumbed to the force of the ice and collapsed in one piece into the river, forming a twisted steel "W" on the ice below.
The Rainbow Bridge was later constructed in the same location, this time with the abutments much higher off the river to prevent similar incidents.
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It was replaced by the Rainbow Bridge in 1941
The Honeymoon Bridge, officially known as the Upper Steel Arch Bridge, was an international bridge that connected Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada, and Niagara Falls in New York, United States. It was constructed between 1897 and 1898 by the Pencoyd Bridge Company and was located about 500 feet (150 m) upriver from the current Rainbow Bridge.
The Honeymoon Bridge was constantly under threat from ice bridges that formed over the river every winter. In January 1899, just a year after its completion, a huge ice bridge threatened the structure as ice piled up around its abutments, which were very close to the river's surface. This issue persisted, and in January 1938, a combination of thin ice on Lake Erie, a January thaw, and high winds caused water and ice levels in the Lower Niagara River to rise to unprecedented heights. On January 25, 1938, the ice twisted the steel frame of the bridge, and it became clear that the bridge would soon collapse.
On January 27, 1938, at about 4:10 p.m., a massive movement of ice on the American side pushed the bridge off its abutment. With a loud roar, the Honeymoon Bridge collapsed into the gorge, forming a twisted steel "W" on the ice below. The final collapse occurred at 4:20 p.m. before thousands of onlookers who had gathered to witness the event.
The Honeymoon Bridge was replaced by the Rainbow Bridge, which was constructed between 1939 and 1942. The new bridge was built just north of the site of the Honeymoon Bridge and officially opened on November 1, 1941. The Rainbow Bridge was designed by architect Richard (Su Min) Lee, and its name was chosen by the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission because rainbows frequently occur near the falls due to water spray and mist.
The Rainbow Bridge is a steel arch bridge that does not permit commercial trucks. It has a span of 290 meters (950 feet) and is distinguished by its abutments, which are located further back from the water's edge and higher above the water's surface compared to the previous bridge.
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Honeymoon Bridge is also a two-player card game
The Honeymoon Bridge was an international bridge that connected Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada, with Niagara Falls in New York, US. The bridge collapsed in 1938 and was replaced by the Rainbow Bridge in 1941.
Honeymoon Bridge is also the name of a two-player card game, which is a variation of the game Contract Bridge. The name Honeymoon Bridge can be applied to any adaptation of Contract Bridge for two players. There are several versions of the game, but they all use a 52-card pack, with suits and cards in each suit ranking as in Bridge. Scoring is the same as in Rubber Bridge.
The game consists of three phases: picking, bidding, and playing. In the picking phase, each player takes turns picking a card from the deck. After seeing the card, they can choose to keep it or discard it. The same player then picks the next card, and if they chose to keep the first card, the second card is discarded, and vice versa. This continues until the deck is empty, with each player ending up with 13 cards.
In the bidding phase, each player bids, either with a pass or a contract. A contract describes the trump and tricks over 6. For example, a contract of 1-clubs means the player must make 7 tricks with clubs as the trump. A higher contract must have a higher trick number or a higher trump with the same trick number. The player who bid the last contract becomes the declarer, and the other player becomes the opponent.
In the playing phase, the opponent starts by playing a card. The declarer must play a card of the same suit if they have one. This is called a trick. If they don't have a card in the same suit, they can play any card. If there is no trump, the winner is the one who played the highest card in the first played suit. If there is a trump, the highest trump card wins the trick.
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Frequently asked questions
The Honeymoon Bridge, also known as the Upper Steel Arch Bridge or Falls View Bridge, was an international bridge that connected Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada, with Niagara Falls in the United States.
The construction of the Honeymoon Bridge was approved in January 1897, and it opened to traffic on June 23, 1897.
The Honeymoon Bridge collapsed on January 27, 1938, due to a combination of factors, including ice accumulation, a January thaw, and high winds, which caused the water and ice levels in the Lower Niagara River to rise, putting pressure on the bridge's supports.
Yes, after the collapse of the Honeymoon Bridge, a new bridge called the Rainbow Bridge was built just north of the original location. The Rainbow Bridge opened in 1941 and was the largest hingeless steel arch bridge in the world at the time of its construction.
