Chicago's Bridges

The Chicago River divides America's Second City into the North and South Sides, and the bridges that span it are famous for their number and beauty. With the first constructed in 1832, it was only twelve years later that a moveable bridge appeared, and today Chicago is home to some sixty bridges in all, making it one of the most bridge-rich cities in the world. These bridges even today offer fascinating glimpses into Chicago's development from rough-and-tumble trading outpost to world-class city known for its architecture and culture, and this book traces the evolution of them all, from the original rising bascules to the splendidly designed twentieth-century structures that lend Chicago much of the grandeur for which it is known world-wide.

Nathan Holth is founder of Historic Bridges (www.historicbridges.org), a resource of information and images relating to historic bridges. He has worked with such experts as Vern Mesler of VJM Metal Craftsman, a well-known expert in historic bridge restoration; Indiana bridge historian James Cooper; and the The Historic Bridge Foundation (historicbridgefoundation.com). Holth has personally visited and photo-documented more than 1,900 old and historic bridges. He also has worked with communities to save historic bridges by providing services such as assistance getting a bridge considered eligible or listed in the National Register of Historic Places, researching and assessing the history and design of a bridge, writing letters of support, and recommending experts for additional assistance and support. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education with a Political Science major and a History minor.