Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Sepia Scenes #20



WELCOME once again to Sepia Scenes!


Photobucket

Photobucket

Queensboro Bridge/The 59th St. Bridge

On the way to Socrates Sculpture Park on the last day of a contemporary art exhibition we drove directly under the 59th St. Bridge. I made my husband stop the car, pull up a little so I could get the shots that you see here.


Originally christened Blackwell’s Island Bridge, and intended to link Manhattan’s Harlem Line with the Long Island Railroad, the colossal, two-decked Queensboro Bridge is one of the greatest cantilever bridges in the history of American bridge design. A collaboration between the famed bridge engineer Gustav Lindenthal (1850-1935) and architect Henry Hornbostel, the Queensboro’s massive, silver-painted trusses span the East River between 59th Street in Manhattan and Long Island City in Queens and offer spectacular views of midtown Manhattan, highlighted by the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, and the United Nations.

Often referred to as the 59th Street Bridge, the Queensboro’s completion preceded that of the Manhattan Bridge by nine months. The bridge has been immortalized by numerous artists and musicians, including Simon & Garfunkel in their hit song, "The 59th Street Bridge Song/Feelin’ Groovy."

The Queensboro Bridge is undergoing a major rehabilitation.

Annual average daily traffic is 192,000 vehicles.






"The structure of the bridge itself is an intricate mass of interlacing steelwork, seemingly incapable of architectural beauty because of the strict requirement imposed by the structural conditions in the design of compression and tension members. Yet, as we look upon the bridge from varying points of view, there is a charm, a certain gracefulness in the repetition of symmetrical parts. Wrought entirely of structural steel, at many points small adornments add appreciably to the delicacy of the structure." - Architecture and Builder (1909)

theteach


27 comments:

Terri said...

Fabulous bridge shots Mary! I love that song, haven't heard it for ages.

My scene is here.

Patti said...

Life I love ya, all is grooooovy!
Now that song is in my head.

Great photos of the 59th Street Bridge, Mary. Nice of hubby to stop the car so you could snap some sepia photos for us. ;-)

Anonymous said...

Great steel structures. Has Mr Linky disappeared again?
My post:
http://ilanadavita.wordpress.com/2009/03/04/sepia-farm/

Mojo said...

OMG. Mary... this is spooky.
You'll have to see it to believe it

Anonymous said...

I like the perspectives in these beautiful and nostalgic photos.

The bridge brings back memories for me...of my childhood.

EG CameraGirl said...

That's a LOT of cars every day!

Carletta said...

What a wonderful old part of history! From movies, to the news out of New York this bridge has been a part of all of our lives. I hope the rehabilitation doesn't destroy the essence of the original.
Hope you're having a groovy week Mary! Thanks for the song!

My Sepia post is on my photoblog: Carletta’s Captures.

Ralph said...

"Slow down you move too fast..."

A very ornate iron structure. The spans of NYC are unparalleled in their style and grandeur. From the GWB to the Triboro to the Queensboro, the style is outstanding.

The rivers in CT aren't wide enough for substance spans like you see every day!

PS: I hope this bridge remains toll-free!

marLou said...

I luv the architecture of the bridge. It's so intricate. Beautiful shot!

carmilevy said...

Thanks so much for your comment pointing to this entry. I've always been a bit of a bridge freak...had David Plowden's "Bridges" book on my coffee table ever since I can remember. I'm not sure why I'm thus addicted, but it makes for cool photo opps.

These are masterful captures of a masterful piece of engineering. Thank you for sharing something I've seen so many times before, but never experienced as richly as I have today.

RA said...

Interesting history of a graceful bridge. Best wishes.

Mike said...

Nice photos.
Mine, with a new tone of sepia (less yellow than before) at

http://pehuajeando.blogspot.com/2009/03/sepia-scenes-escenas-en-sepia-5.html

PJ said...

Another amazing sepia photo, Mary. I HAVE to work more with other tones for sepia. As always, you lead the way.

Anonymous said...

A wide huge and that's a very well used bridge with so much cars passing by everyday.

The interlacing structure is pretty amazing and itself a piece of art already.

Four-eyed-missy said...

Hi... this is my first time here at Sepia Scenes.

Inside Cambodia

Jeri ~ said...

Great shots of the bridge - you have left me feelin' GROOOOVY!

Melli said...

UGH! I LOVE those pictures and I LOVE that song -- as a matter of fact that whole album!!! GREAT shots Mary! Mine will be up in about 45 minutes! They're scheduled!

Jackie said...

Marvelous shots Mary! sorry I couldn't play this week. But it's been a very hectic week for me in real life.

Great tune also.

Jackie

Dirkjogt said...

Great pictures of a great bridge!

Gemma Wiseman said...

This bridge is such a grand, proud old lady! Great to link the photo and the song! Love these photos!

Sherrie said...

Hi Mary,
Awesome photos!!! Are those blinking lights on the very tip top of the arches? The kind that let airplanes see them? That what they look like to me. Mine is posted. It's a wedding! Have a great day!!

Sherrie

Mo and The Purries said...

For once, I had mine up before you, then after 4pm got here I had a headache and took a nap and then never turned the computer back on so mine is late even though it was early and your bridge pics are cool and how's this for a run-on sentence, teach?
(big grins)
mo

RA said...

Dear Friends, thank you for all your prayers and encouragements. It means a lot to me in this time of loss. Best wishes.

Patti said...

Hi Mary,
I woke up this morning and realized I never came back to link my post. Mr. Linky wasn't here Wednesday afternoon when I came by. Yikes, I guess I was busy yesterday.

Have a great Friday!

Anonymous said...

Mary The Teach you have quite the blog. I'm so glad PJ pointed me here.

Good taste in music, too.

Julie said...

Love the bridge shots and the song.

Lynda Lehmann said...

Nice photos! I live on Long Island and never really knew anything about this bridge, except to call it the "59th St. Bridge"!

Thanks for the interesting post. I'm contemplating joining the meme. Is it "okay" to miss some weeks?

I've always loved S & G. They're such poets....

"Groovy...." Boy, does that bring back (OLD) memories!