Wheeling Suspension Bridge WV


The National Road: West Virginia
Wheeling Suspension Bridge
Wheeling and the National Road is home to one of the greatest engineering achievements in American History. The nearly 170 year old Wheeling Suspension Bridge is the oldest operating suspension bridge in the world. The bridge was the first to span a main channel of the Ohio River (1). In 1836, a two span covered bridge opened over the back channel of the Ohio in Wheeling. This bridge crossed at the site of an 1893 truss and modern day bridge that carries Route 40 over the back channel to this day! (2)
The story of the bridge was amplified by a bidding and design war between two prominent suspension bridge designers, Charles Ellet, Jr. and John Roebling. The two rivals would compete for the commission until Ellet’s design won out in 1847. The 1,010 foot bridge took two years to complete. It opened on October 20, 1849, although the official grand opening would take place on November 15. The bridge was immediately put into service as a toll bridge.
The Terrific Storm
On May 17, 1854, a violent gale destroyed most of the bridge with much of the span crashing into the Ohio. One account of the collapse read:
“For a few moments we watched it with breathless anxiety, lunging like a ship in the storm; at one time it rose to nearly the heighth of the towers then fell, and twisted and writhed, and was dashed almost bottom upward. At last there seemed to be a determined twist along the entire span, about one half of the flooring being nearly reversed, and down went the immense structure from its dizzy heighth to the stream below, with an appalling crash and roar. Nearly the entire structure struck the water at the same instant dashing up an unbroken column of foam across the river, to the heighth of at least forty feet! ” (3)
Many have compared the 1854 collapsed to that of the famed 1940 collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.
The collapse ended Ellet’s turbulent career as a bridge designer and builder. To repair the span, Roebling, who had since gained national acclaim for his railroad bridge over the Niagara River, was commissioned to rebuild the bridge at a cost of $42,000 (4).
To preserve the structure and keep it usable, the bridge would have major repairs done in 1956, 1982, and 1999. It has received numerous awards and honors including:
- National Historic Engineering Landmark; 1969
- National Historic Landmark; 1975
- National Register of Historic Places; 1980
credits Gribblenation.com
Nikon D200×18-200 Nikkor lens
3 shots HDR processed in Photomatix and then enhanced ps
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Nancy Chambers
Stunning Kate. :)
Kate Adams replied
Thanks you so much Nancy:))
Fern Design
So beautiful!!! love it..
Kate Adams replied
Many thanks I appreciate it very much:))
Dave7074
Kate you are just so talented my friend, beautiful like always. Dave
Kate Adams replied
Hi Dave!! thanks so much my friend for your great comments:))
vadim19
Gorgeous, Kate! Such an atmospheric image with the wonderful treatment.
Kate Adams replied
Thank you so very much Vadim – always love your comments:))
BigD
Excellent treatment, Kate
Kate Adams replied
Thank you so much “D” – always enjoy the US history:))
LjMaxx
Kate this is gorgeous. Such a fine job you did on this.. Super!
Kate Adams replied
Well thank you very much Lj and for the fave, I am honoured – so glad you liked it – I always enjoy history:))
Angel Perry
WOW Kate!!! Awesome!
Kate Adams replied
Hi Angle nice to see you, thank you so much for the great comments:))
LudaNayvelt
WOW, FANTASTIC TREATMENT , KATE!
Kate Adams replied
Hi Luda so pleased you like it, did it a couple of weeks ago but was so unsure about it – different for me – thank you so much:))
Rick & Deb Larson
A beautiful capture of this historical bridge (and a great write up), well done!! Take Care ~ Rick & Deb ~ :)
Kate Adams replied
Hi Guys!! thanks so much for the great comments:))
Jonice
Awesome Girl!!!! Jonice
Kate Adams replied
Many thanks Jonice – it’s a very interesting old bridge:))
WayoftheWarrior
Awesome
Kate Adams replied
Thank you so much Tony:))
MichelleR
Fantastic image. I like it.
Kate Adams replied
Hi Michelle nice to see you – thank you so much for the great comments:))
RickF
Great capture!
Kate Adams replied
Thank you very much Rick for the great comments:))
stephaniek
Wow…..looks so surreal….............Excellent!!
Kate Adams replied
Thanks so much Steph – my blue house was close to this:))
Tina Longwell
Fabulous Kate!
Kate Adams replied
Thank you so much Tina,very much appreciated:))
Margaret Shark
Love the history, but even more the image. Beautifully done.
Kate Adams replied
Many thanks Margaret, very much appreciated:))
Victoria Sheldon
Totally gorgeous Kate!!!!!
Kate Adams replied
Thanks you so much Victoria, very much appreciated:))
Philip Johnson
Hi Kate
great shot, would you do me a favour , for me to accept it into the HDR Photography group would you be able to add to the description details on the HDR process Things like tripod/hadheld, number of exposures (settings if you can remember), software used etc etc
Kate Adams replied
My apologies Phillip, I have edited.
Svetlana Sewell
Love it, love it, love it Kate! my instant favo!
Kate Adams replied
Lana! thank you so much for the great comments and I am honoured you made it a fave – thank you again:))
Svetlana Sewell
I am still here – its fabulous work!
Kate Adams replied
hahahaha!! you are so funny – you made me smile!!
Linda Syms
Fabulous shot.
Kate Adams replied
Thank you so much Linda and also for stopping by – you also have some stunning images:))
Virginia N. Fred
Very very nice
Kate Adams replied
Many thanks Virginia for the great comments and fave – I am honoured:))
CynLynn
wonderful Kate, and great info! super work, love it!
Kate Adams replied
Hi Cindy – many thanks for the great comments- I really appreciate it:))
Nancy Chambers
Nice Kate. :)
Kate Adams replied
Whoohoo!! thanks so much Nancy – you made my day!!
Lucindawind
Awesome ! its so beautiful
Kate Adams replied
Thank you very much Lu and for the fav so happy you like it:))
melant1017
Outstanding capture, congrats on your TPW feature :-)
~A
Kate Adams replied
Whooohoo!! thank you so much Antonio – I am so thrilled:))
Mindy Miller
Very nice shot my friend!
Kate Adams replied
Thanks so much again Mindy – very much appreciated:))
maxy
This is so beautiful! Huge congratulations on your feature!
Magnum1975
Amazing work here. Well done.
Kate Adams replied
Thank you for the lovely comments:))
Yool
Totally beautiful shot!!!!
Kate Adams replied
Thank you so much my friend:))
Carol Barona
Oh Kate, this is fantastic work! Instant FAV!
Kate Adams replied
Thank you so much Carol and for the fave I am honored:))
Angie McKenzie
wonderful detail!! great capture kate!!
Kate Adams replied
Angie! thank you for the wonderful comments and fave I am honored:))
Steve Liptrot
Well processed petal. Def fave!
Kate Adams replied
Hi Steve thanks so much I appreciate that very much:))
SimplyScene
Lovely image. A fave.
Kate Adams replied
Thank you so much for the great comments and fav, I am honored:))
Peter Lessey
Beautiful photo Kate, the post processing is just outstanding.
Kate Adams replied
Many thanks for the lovely comments Peter and for the fav – I am honored:))
DawsonImages
Nice view, mastering HDR?
Kate Adams replied
Thank you so much Mike – always appreciated:))
Edward Henzi
Hi Kate, great shot of this old bridge. Love your historical story about it too.
It sure looks ancient. Nice work. Ed
Kate Adams replied
Thanks so much Ed – it is a very old town and bridge, it was only when I drove over it I noticed, but they have kept it so well maintained and unless they build a new bridge – it will probably last for years to come:))
Kate Adams replied
Thanks so much for the fave also Ed!!!
Prasad
This is great!
Kate Adams replied
Many thanks my friend:))
Tibby Steedly
Wonderful shot and effects! Congratulations on your feature!!
Kate Adams replied
Many thanks again Tibby, very much appreciated:))
Kasey Cline
WOW That is incredible! I love the comp and the HDR is perfect! YOu nailed this one my friend!
Kate Adams replied
Thanks so much Kasey – hope you are feeling better now:))
WJPhotography
Gorgeous work kate
Kate Adams replied
Thanks you again Wendy, always appreciated:))
cdudak
Kate this is awesome, love the effects and coloring here.
Kate Adams replied
Hi Kay! – thanks so much for the comments and fav I am honored:))
Katagram
wow, this rocks…I am not a huge fan of HDR (ask Kasey, she will tell you LOL), but it works well with this shot..love the size and grandeur of the bridge..beautiful job ! !
Kate Adams replied
Hi again Kat!! – thanks for the great comments:))
John44
Excellent job dearest Katie
Been in Bristol and there is a similar..
Clifton’s suspension bridge
Smiles from Europe
John
Kate Adams replied
Hi dearest John – wonderful to see you again – thanks so much for smiles from Europe – smiles back to you!!
mlynnd
Kate, this is beautiful!
Kate Adams replied
Many thanks Lynn, I appreciate the great comments:))
Sharon Mau
It is a beautiful image Kate!
Congratulations on your wonderful feature in AMERICAS ~ Rural, Urban, Wild, Free
Kate Adams replied
Whooohoo!! thank you so very much – you have made my day!!:))
Brendan Schoon
WOW, excellent image, perfectly done.
Brendan
Kate Adams replied
Many thanks for the great comments Brendan:))
Ilan Cohen
I like the composition. Beautiful.
Kate Adams replied
Thank you so much for the great comments llan – happy you stopped by:))
Glenna Walker
This is so beautiful Kate…splendid capture!!!!!!
Kate Adams replied
Thanks so much again Glenna:))
Michael Kienhuis
Sensational work
Kate Adams replied
Many thanks Michael for the great comments and fave – I am honored:))
Wayne Cook
Oh, my gosh! A MASTERPIECE!
Kate Adams replied
Thank you so much Wayne for the comments and fave, I am honoured:))
Antonia Diewold
Ahh i Love the Effects of all your Photos!!!
Kate Adams replied
Thank you so much Antonia- glad you enjoyed it:))
Jeff Palm Phot...
This looks like a fabulous painting! Excellent work!
Kate Adams replied
Many thanks Jeff:))
foxyphotography
Kate Adams replied
Thank you so much I am thrilled:))
Jonice
kate…this is a awesome shot! Jonice
Kate Adams replied
Thank you so much Jonice:))
Deon de Waal
This is just plain brilliant
Kate Adams replied
Thank you again and for the fav, very much appreciated:))