The Smithfield Street Bridge
The Smithfield Street Bridge is the oldest steel bridge in the United States and it is located in the City of Steel. Need we say more?
We don’t.
But we will.
If you love short lenticular truss bridges, this is not the bridge for you as it is one of the longest lenticular truss bridges in the world.
But its list of accolades is even longer than its lenticularity.
While the Steelers were accumulating Lombardi Trophies in the 1970s in forming the legendary Steel Curtain, this Great Bridge–-”one of the first major bridges in the U.S. built primarily with steel”--was stockpiling championships in its own trophy case: gaining its Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation plaque in 1970, being listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974 and becoming an official National Historic Landmark two years later before winning its City of Pittsburgh Historic Designation in 1977 to match the four championships of the Steelers and complete its 1970s dynastic run.
#CityOfChampions
Some steel champions, like the Steel Curtain, block you from your destination: the end zone. Other champions, like the Smithfield Street Bridge, take you to your destination: Pittsburgh. It just depends if you have good intentions (going to Pittsburgh) or bad intentions (trying to score a touchdown on the Steelers)--steel always does the right thing depending on the context.
#ChampionshipBehavior
It is no wonder that a city with so many great athletes has so many* pedestrians walking across this Great Bridge of winning, keeping themselves in great, championship shape in concert with this city’s great championship history of which its championship character is a bridge to.
But as time moves on, some people get on the Other Internet and forget about history; they forget about greatness. #IdleTimeIsTheDevil’sWorkshop
Especially the uneducated, usually coming from the eastern part of the Keystone State. Invaders hailing from Harrisburg wanted to demolish the Bridge in the early/mid-90s. Perhaps they thought Pittsburgh vulnerable with Chuck Noll, the last remnant of the Steel Curtain, having retired and the Steelers experiencing upset playoff losses in the early Cowher years. They thought the Great Steel to be rusty** and vulnerable***. But they underestimated the Steely Pittsburgh resolve of Western Pennsylvania Great Bridge Advocates, often assuming names like the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation, who resisted the PennDOT attacks and sent them packing back eastward on the Monongahela not completely unlike the Homestead Strikers of 1892 defeated the Pinkertons****, lighting the barges on fire sending their lifeless***** boats floating back on the Monongahela. Yes, they underestimated the strength of Re-Tempered Steel, an underused nickname for the Steelers electrifying defenses of the 1990s.
Fortunately, there was no violence during the 1990s invasion. The invaders quickly saw the steely resolve of official groups like Pittsburgh historical societies and less formalized groups, like the legendary Pittsburgh Bridge Connoisseurs of Old, and recognizing what happened last time such a strong informal group had to defend itself against a larger government entity, the eastern invaders quickly backed down.
And that’s why the Great Bridge still stands today.
And that’s why PennDOT is now suddenly pro-Smithfield Street Bridge. #EveryoneLikesAWinner
Can you blame them for wanting to Avoid Lloyd?
That’s why history is important, not a subject to avoid.
Do not forget the greatness of Greg Lloyd. Those who do not know history are destined to get smashed by in the mouth by another great Pittsburgh outside linebacker in the tradition of Greg Lloyd.
That’s why we have taken so much time to support history here. #Safety
As noted on Pittsburghbeautiful.com, “As a cherished historic landmark, preserving the Smithfield Street Bridge’s legacy is of utmost importance.” That’s why we are doing the work we do here: to preserve the legacy of these Great Bridges.
This Bridge is also proof of the statement, “The third time’s the charm.” Once again, we can prove that through the subject of history. #Intellectualism #SupportYourClaims #DontJustMakeShitUpLikePeopleDoOnTheOtherInternet
The first bridge in this location was wooden and thus susceptible to fire, so that lasted from 1818 to 1845. #SteelIsStrongerThan Wood #CitiesOfSteelAreStrongThanCitiesOfWood
The bridge that bridged the gap between the first bridge and the current Great Smithfield Street Bridge was designed by John A. Roebling, not only a pioneer of Saxonburg (one of Butler, PA’s great boroughs), but also one of the great rope pioneers of all-time. To say that Western Pennsylvania is responsible for every piece of rope you use may be a statement of slight exaggeration, but it is indisputable that he improved upon the earlier 3 or 4-wire ropes, upping it a lucky and hugely impressive 7-wire rope for suspension bridge use and become the greatest American wire rope manufacturer of the 1800s with his 1893 wire-rope closing machine ranking an impressive #139 on a mechanical engineering list and making him an integral part of wire-rope history.
This all brings up to March 19, 1883 when the current Great Bridge opened after surviving the dangerous Ides of March just days prior.
After surviving over 140 more Ides of Marches, it still stands today in all of its stability, durability, and glorability.
This Great Bridge ushered in a new beginning in bridgehood:
In other words, the Smithfield Street Bridge bridges the gap between engineers and architects, bringing together the 2 great fields of structure to make structures better for all of eternity******.
Whenever you see a great structure anywhere that combines architecture and engineering, you have taken a spiritual walk across the Smithfield Street Bridge.
Whenever you have seen success anywhere that has combined championship pedigree with a steely resolve, you have taken a spiritual walk across the Smithfield Street Bridge.
Whenever you have watched Wiz Khalifa’s music video of his timeless classic “Black and Yellow,” you have taken a spiritual walk across the Smithfield Street Bridge, which starred in the music video and helped make Wiz Khalifa famous.
Whenever you have left one place and gone to another, and both places are good, you have taken a spiritual walk across the Smithfield Street Bridge.
And, of course, whenever you have visited The Mount Rushmore of Pittsburgh Bridges That Did Not Make the Mount Rushmore of Pittsburgh Bridges, you have taken a spiritual walk across the Smithfield Street Bridge.
Or perhaps the traversal was a spiritual drive across.
Just like the Smithfield Street Bridge offers options for crossing, the choice, of course, is always yours, our humble tourist.
Just as this Bridge had “humble beginnings” as a wooden bridge, we will humbly defer the final words to the beautiful words of Pittsburghbeautiful.com:
“The Smithfield Street Bridge stands as a testament to Pittsburgh’s industrial heritage and ingenuity. From its humble beginnings as a wooden toll bridge to its current status as a National Historic Landmark, the bridge has witnessed the city’s growth and transformation over the years. Its unique design, historical significance, and vital role in Pittsburgh’s development make it a beloved icon and a cherished part of the city’s cultural fabric. Whether as a transportation artery or a captivating landmark, the Smithfield Street Bridge continues to bridge the past and present, connecting people and communities in the heart of Pittsburgh.”
*6,100 per day as of 2022, according to that article, which also mentions there are holes developing on the Bridge, which is not the fault of the Bridge but rather because of its great popularity, which the article doesn’t get into details about. But the important takeaway from all of this, in addition to the Great Bridge being greatly popular, is that now you know when people say “so many,” they generally mean “6,100.” At least that’s what they meant circa 2022.
**It was a little rusty, but nothing a little restoration couldn’t fix.
***It was a little vulnerable, but nothing a few millions of dollars of restoration couldn’t fix.
****At least initially, but Carnegie had seemingly endless resources….
*****At least less than they arrived with.
******Or until the structure collapses, whichever comes first (probably the latter).