The Brooklyn Bridge is a beauty, yes, but for architectural grace and historical enchantment (and as a place for long late-night walks, as Edgar Allan Poe discovered), you just can’t beat High Bridge—the 1848 span built to bring city residents fresh water from the Croton Reservoir upstate.
Standing 84 feet above the Harlem River, the High Bridge’s 15 arches were an elegant sight for people on ships below or on the Bronx or Manhattan side above.
A pedestrian walkway was added in the 1860s—and it’s open again after being closed to the public for 40 years.
Tags: Croton Aqueduct, Harlem River, High Bridge, High Bridge Harlem River, most beautiful bridge in New York City, New York City bridges
Ephemeral New York 
October 9, 2017 at 7:44 am |
To see exactly where this is I had to look it up on Google Maps – http://bit.ly/highbridgeharlem
October 9, 2017 at 9:32 am |
lovely –
October 9, 2017 at 11:58 am |
I haven’t yet made it there since the bridge reopened to pedestrians – this post reminded me that I should! It really is a lovely bridge.
October 9, 2017 at 2:13 pm |
You must go! It’s truly stunning, the bridge itself and the view high above the Harlem River. It’s off the beaten path for most Manhattanites but perfectly safe.
October 9, 2017 at 3:12 pm |
I love all the beautiful architecture that New York City has to offer.. There is so much beauty in the city… would love to take a walk across the bridge next next time I visit NYC…
October 9, 2017 at 5:10 pm |
Really want to go. Thanks for this Phem. I read a long piece about it somewhere awhile ago re. the water supply. xx
October 9, 2017 at 7:51 pm |
My father walked over this bridge when he was a kid. Now that it’s re-opened, I want to walk over it with my daughter and complete the circle.
October 11, 2017 at 11:06 pm |
Lovely site. Thanks for all the efforts you make.
October 12, 2017 at 3:29 pm |
Thank you for reading!
November 6, 2017 at 2:18 pm |
Most of those lovely arches were removed and replaced with one steel arch so as to accommodate larger vessels moving on the river. It’s unfortunate but was necessary.
November 11, 2017 at 11:49 pm |
Beth, that is so….a good chunk of the bridge is not original.