Vintage Photograph Shows Washington Bridge Over Harlem River Circa 1900

Washington Bridge and speedway, New York ca. 1900
Washington Bridge and speedway, New York ca. 1900
Photo: LOC

This great vintage photograph from around 1900 shows the Washington Bridge—not the George Washington Bridge that opened in 1931— and the "speedway" underneath as it spans the Harlem River between Washington Heights in Manhattan and Morris Heights in The Bronx. Here is a Google StreetView of a view today from approximately the same vantage point, though it's tough to see as there is a newer bridge, the Alexander Hamilton Bridge, directly in front of it.

Check out the specimen page on the Library of Congress Digital Archives for more info on the photograph.

Washington Bridge
Matt Coneybeare

Matt Coneybeare

Editor in Chief

Matt enjoys exploring the City's with his partner and son. He is an avid marathon runner, and spends most of his time eating, running, and working on cool stuff.

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