Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial Bridge, Harrisburg, PA

   

State Street
Harrisburg/ Dauphin
PA USA
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/pnp/habshaer/pa/pa3500/pa3574/data/pa3574data.pdf http://www.pngmilitarymuseum.org/pa_monuments/dauphin.h

08/22/1930

William Gehron & Sidney Ross, architects; Lee Lawrie, sculptor

 

The Soldier's and Sailors' bridge was completed in 1930 as the principal entrance to Center City and the State Capitol Complex from the east, terminating at Fisher Plaza. The bridge was named "Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial Bridge" in honor of the service of Pennsylvania's soldiers and sailors. It connects the East Harrisburg area to Capitol Hill.

The bridge is made up of seventeen arches with towering pylons at the western end which dramatize bridge’s gateway importance. The pylons are 145 feet high and 16 feet wide. Two eagle figures (Lee Lawrie, sculptor) are perched at the top of each pylon, signifying the Union of the United States. One pylon represents the Army, and the other represents the Navy. The four faces of the pylons are inscribed with the dates of eight of the wars the United States had participated in up to that point.

The keystone to each arch on the bridge contains stylized carvings by Lee Lawrie of various implements of warfare that were developed during WWI. These include tanks, battleships, hand grenades, and aerial bombs.

 
 

Bridge

Metal (any)

80

state and city

$661,000

Yes

Yes

Yes

J. E. Greiner Company, engineers

Pennsylvania Department of General Services