Photos
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The South Lion Footbridge, circa 1908 In the sothern part of Lake Park, twin footbridges (twin feetbridge?) were built to cross the ravines that separated the northern and southern portions of the park. The peninsula of land was owned by the U.S. Lighthouse Service, location of the North Point Lighthouse, seen in the upper left of the photograph. Between the bridges is a small courtyard that was bounded by pedestals that held an iron chain. Just above the railing in the photo, you can make out six of the pedestals.
Note the ornate light standards on both bridges. You can just make out the portal of the North Lion Bridge on the right side of the photo. The bridges were designed by Oscar Sanne and built in 1896-1897. The photo was taken by Sumner W. Matteson. It is from the collection of the Milwaukee Public Museum and used with permission. Photo taken by Sumner W. Matteson |
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The same bridge today, looking north. The ornate globe light fixtures have been replaced with "Milwaukee Harp Lights" on this bridge.
The bridges were narrowed and closed to motor vehicles in 1964. Photo taken by J.R. Manning in June 2008 |
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The iron railings are intact. Note the ornate style of the iron arch.
Photo taken by J.R. Manning in June 2008 |
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The north mount and retaining wall. Between the bridges is the courtyard area.
Photo taken by J.R. Manning in June 2008 |
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The west face of the bridge. Both bridges cross deep ravines that have walking paths. Below the arch, near the bottom of the photo, you can see the wood railing that marks the walkway.
Photo taken by J.R. Manning in June 2008 |
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Detail of the iron railing Photo taken by J.R. Manning in June 2008 |
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The north portal of the south bridge, as seen from the courtyard.
Photo taken by J.R. Manning in June 2008 |
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One of four Milwaukee "Harp Lights" mounted on the south bridge.
There are no lights on the north bridge. Photo taken by J.R. Manning in June 2008 |
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The arch of the south bridge, as seen from the walking path.
Photo taken by J.R. Manning in June 2008 |
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The south bridge mount and retaining wall. The arch and mounts of the north bridge are nearly identical.
Photo taken by J.R. Manning in June 2008 |
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The west edge of the courtyard. Here are the six pedestals that you saw in Mr. Matteson's photograph.
Photo taken by J.R. Manning in June 2008 |
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Detail of the links that form the decorative chain, marking the edge of the courtyard.
Photo taken by J.R. Manning in June 2008 |
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The courtyard, as seen from the lawn of the lighthouse.
Photo taken by J.R. Manning in June 2008 |
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The east side of the courtyard, as seen from the portal of the north bridge. The chain is long gone and some of the pedestals are missing, perhaps pushed into the ravine by vandals.
Photo taken by J.R. Manning in June 2008 |
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The east edge of the courtyard. This appears to have been a statuary. Just beyond the wall is the edge of the bluff.
Photo taken by J.R. Manning in June 2008 |
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Typical pedestal, with the chain mount.
Photo taken by J.R. Manning in June 2008 |
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The north portal of the north bridge.
Photo taken by J.R. Manning in June 2008 |
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The east side of the north bridge.
Photo taken by J.R. Manning in June 2008 |
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Proudly Standing Guard There are eight lions here, four on each bridge. The lion sculptures were designed by Paul Kupper and donated to the park by the Milwaukee Electric Railway and Light Company.
Photo taken by J.R. Manning in June 2008 |
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The Artist Signature Photo taken by J.R. Manning in April 2009 |
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The deck and east railing of the north bridge.
Photo taken by J.R. Manning in June 2008 |
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The arch as seen through the railing.
Photo taken by J.R. Manning in June 2008 |
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The State Historical Marker The lighthouse was decommissioned after this marker was placed and no longer operates. The lighthouse is now a part of Lake Park.
Photo taken by J.R. Manning in June 2008 |
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The North Point Lighthouse As seen from the courtyard between the bridges. Yes, the lighthouse and tender's house are actually white and not pink.
Photo taken by J.R. Manning in June 2008 |
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General View Of North Span, Looking South From Pedestrian Axis Photo taken by Martin Stupich, June 30, 1987 for HAER |
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View Showing Central Landscaping, Looking South From North Span Photo taken by Martin Stupich, June 30, 1987 for HAER |
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Detail View Of Lion Sculpture On South Span, Southeast Abutment Photo taken by Martin Stupich, June 30, 1987 for HAER |
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Detail View Of Steel Arch On South Span, Looking South Photo taken by Martin Stupich, June 30, 1987 for HAER |
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Detail View Of North End Of South Span, Where Arch And Abutment Join "The abutments of the bridges are of local limestone, up to 16 inches thick, cut with a one-inch chisel draft and laid in an ashlar manner. Bedford sandstone was used for the decorative carnice and abutment railings, since it coule be obtained for the same price as comparable terra cotta elements. The firm clay ground allowed the footings to be placed directly on it."
--Edwin Cordes, Wisconsin Historic Bridges Project, Summer 1987 Photo taken by Martin Stupich, June 30, 1987 for HAER |
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Detail View Of North End Of South Span, Showing East Connection Of Arch To Abutment Photo taken by Martin Stupich, June 30, 1987 for HAER |
The Significance of Lake Park and the Lake Park Bridges
Written by J.R. ManningThe west shore of Lake Michigan features a tall bluff, varying in height but as high as 70 meters, that overlooks the lake. In the mid 1800's, the civic leaders of Milwaukee recognized the importance of preserving public space in the form of parks and began to buy up land throughout the area. One of the spots was the area that is now known as Lake Park. The significance of this site is nothing new, burial mounds of Native Americans were found here.
In 1854, the U.S. Lighthouse service built the North Point Lighthouse on a two acre plat that divided the planned park area. The lighthouse was moved back 100 feet because of bluff erosion, a problem that continues to this day. The city and the federal government came to an agreement in 1893 that allowed the park to be developed as planned, and the lighthouse continued in operation until it was decommissioned in 1994. The lighthouse is now a part of the park and is being restored.
The Milwaukee Park Commission contracted with Frederick Law Olmsted, the noted landscape architect, to design Lake Park. (Ohlmstead is remembered for designing New York's Central Park, the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago and the grounds of the Vanderbilt's Biltmore Mansion.)
The Lion Bridges, that span the ravines that frame the lighthouse, were completed in 1897. The footbridge was built in 1905 and the Grand Staircase in 1908.
You can learn more about this wonderful park and the structures of it at the website of the Lake Park Friends.
Excerpts From the Historic Bridges Project Report
Written by Edwin Cordes, Summer 1987The Lion Bridges are two of five decorative bridges located in Lake Park on Milwaukee's northeast side. All but one were designed between 1893 and 1898 by the local Milwaukee engineer, Oscar Sanne. The bridges span the two southernmost ravines in the park and surround the 1854 government lighthouse. Lake Park was one of Milwaukee's earliest public parks and was designed by the prominent Boston landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted.
Each of the twin bridges measures 164 feet, including approaches. The steel arches span ravines 88 feet wide. A grassy knoll, approximately 95 feet wide, separates the two structures. A government lighthouse, along with the lightkeeper's residence, is locaated just west of the bridges on the knoll. A large decorative, semicircular plateau extends east of the bridges on the knoll and is surround by 18 large stone posts and heavy ornamental chain. While providing an excellent observation point above the lake front, and a possible site for a fountain, the posts and chains were also used to prevent an uncontrolled carriage of automobile from falling into the ravine.
The bridge spans were composed of six large steel arches. The two hinged arches wee designed to carry live loads of 100 pounds pwe square foot. Each arch was connected with 16 decorative cross struts to the other five arches in the span. Gusset plates and cross struts placed at each panel point were substituted for lateral or sway rods. The two outermost arches on each span were heavily decorated with bolted cast metal plates. These decorative elements were removed in 1966 when the bridges were narrowed to allow only pedestrian traffic.
Oscar Sanne, the bridges' designer, was known primarily for his work as an engineer. He specialized in the design of iron and steel bridges, drawspans, viaducts and buildings. Sanne graduated from the Karlrische Polytechnic University of Germany, with a degree in engineering. Examples of his work include large steel spans in Oshkosh, DePere and LaCrosse, Wisconsin, as well as the Goldsmith Building in Milwaukee. Mr. Sanne was also involved in the design of the structural system for the Machinery Mall at the Chicago World's Fair of 1893. [Editor's note: Frederick Law Olmsted was the designer of the fair.]
Facts
- Overview
- Open-spandrel arch bridge over Ravines on Pedestrian Walkway in Milwaukee
- Location
- Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
- Status
- Open to pedestrians
- History
- Built in 1897; Closed to traffic and narrowed in 1964
- Design
- Open-spandrel arch
- Recognition
- Posted to the National Register of Historic Places on
- Approximate latitude, longitude
- +43.06420, -87.87225 (decimal degrees)
43°03'51" N, 87°52'20" W (degrees°minutes'seconds") - Approximate UTM coordinates
- 16/428978/4768313 (zone/easting/northing)
- USGS topographic map
- Milwaukee OE E
- Inventory number
- BH 36758 (Bridgehunter.com ID)
Update Log
- April 18, 2009: New photo from J.R. Manning
- August 6, 2008: Essay added by J.R. Manning
- July 2, 2008: Updated by J.R. Manning
- June 27, 2008: Essay added by J.R. Manning
Sources
- J.R. Manning - thekitchenguy [at] sbcglobal [dot] net
- Lake Park Friends - Lake Park Friends' description of these bridges.
- HAER WI-19 - Lake Park Lions Bridge, At Lighthouse in Lake Park, Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, WI
Comments
:-P~
WHAT!....you mean those concrete arch bridges in Fort Wayne aren't really PINK?
And here I thought that you had used some super special effects in the pictures of the Wells Street Bridge.
Something is wrong with your new camera J.R. The lighthouse looks white, maybe the pink balance is out of whack.
The north bridge is under major restoration! I visited the site on April 17, 2009 and took these photos of the work in progress.
In the second photo, you can see that the trees and underbrush that surrounded the bridge have all been cut away; the edges of the ravine are now bare. The deck has been removed and the ironwork is being restored.
Note, in the third photo, that replacement cross members are faithful reproductions of the originals. The only difference appears to be that the replacement ironwork is bolted into place where the originals were riveted.
The fourth photo is of the lighthouse. I just wanted to prove to a few of you jokers that it's white and not pink - my old camera had a little problem with white balance. ^__^
