roebling aqueduct suspension bridge

11-13-14 This is an interesting structure to be used for so long and for two different purposes; first for transporting boats and now for cars and trucks. I walked it and then drove across it today. Information placards were very helpful. Eagles are all around.

We’ve been here before. During a long drive heading back to New England from a trip to Baltimore for the 200th anniversary of Francis Scott Key’s writing of the lyrics to the “The Star-Spangled Banner,” we detoured for an overnight in Budd Lake, NJ near Allentown, PA and the Pocono Mountains. Then, we drove though all three National Park Service units for the Delaware River.Roebling's Delaware Aqueduct is part of the Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River which is a separate National Park Service unit from the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. It encompasses areas of PA and NY north of the Delaware Water Gap NRA and Middle Delaware National Scenic River. It extends through parts of five counties along this section of the river --- Delaware, Orange, and Sullivan in New York and Pike and Wayne in Pennsylvania. The Delaware River is the longest undammed, free-flowing river in the northeastern United States.Not far from Roebling's Delaware Aqueduct is the Zane Grey Museum. Both are part of this national park unit. We visited both.Roebling's Delaware Aqueduct a/k/a Roebling’s Bridge connects Lackawaxen, PA to Minisink Ford and Barryville, NY. It is 535 feet long, and it’s the oldest existing wire cable suspension bridge in the United States. Begun in 1847 as one of four suspension aqueducts on the Delaware and Hudson Canal, it was designed by and built under the supervision of John A. Roebling, future engineer of the Brooklyn Bridge. Roebling's Bridge Tollhouse is on the bridge on the New York side. Admission is free. It contains exhibits and historic photographs. I found it interesting. It took about 15 minutes to go through. The D&H Towpath Trail provides a one-mile stroll along the 1828 towpath. The bridge has a walking path for visitors to view the scenic beauty of the Delaware River. One might see bald eagles as there are nests in this area. I walked the bridge. It was an experience to drive over and to walk on a bridge that was over 165 years old and still solid. There’s a parking area on the Lackawaxen side where one can get a good look at the structure of the aqueduct. That's a great photo stop. There are also info boards. Admission is free to the Zane Grey Museum, but donations are gladly accepted. The self-guided tour of his study and office takes about an hour if you look at and read everything. The National Park Service volunteer at the desk is nearby and can answer any questions. It was home to this prolific western author in the early years from 1914 to 1918. Like Washington Irving, Zane Grey had a place to sleep just feet behind his desk. Irving’s was subtle; it was a padded bench that could be concealed by draw drapes. Grey’s was a full-sized twin bed with no camouflage. It was interesting to learn that Zane Grey was originally a dentist in New York City. “Riders of the Purple Sage” was his most famous novel. Other books became TV series --- “The Lone Ranger” and “Sergeant Preston of the Yukon.” Many of Grey’s works were published posthumously. The volunteer said that he heard that something had been published in February 2013. For those who participate in the Passport to Your National Parks Program, the Zane Grey Museum has the cancellation station at the front desk. There are two cancellation stamps. They read:● Upper Delaware SRR - Beach Lake, PA● Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River - Zane Grey MuseumThe bookstore is at Zane Grey Museum.There was a kayak rental station across the street from the Zane Grey Museum. There are several others in on the New York side at Barryville, Narrowsburg, Port Jervis, and Hancock among others. We recommend a visit to these attractions in the National Park Service unit from spring through fall. There are only a few restaurants in the area on the PA and NY sides of the bridge. There are more in Barryville, NY which has a coffee shop and a diner. There are no fast food places. A nice tag-on for history enthusiasts is a visit to Minisink Battleground Park that commemorates the Battle at Minisink Ford on July 22, 1779. It is also commemorated on the village square in Goshen, NY, in the Lackawaxen Cemetery adjoining St. Mark's Church in Lackawaxen, PA and Fort Decker in Port Jervis, NY. The areas around the Roebling's Delaware Aqueduct are wheelchair accessible. There were stairs at the tollhouse. There were stairs in front of the Zane Grey Museum. Both are accessible only with assistance. Call the ranger station ahead. If you found this review helpful, kindly click YES below.

If you are on a day trip this place in beautiful. It crosses the Delaware River and is very scenic. The walkway is fun for a nice river view and if you are lucky you might even get to see and American Bald Eagle or two. If you are in the area a must see. Really old and really interesting. No cost to visit Bridge. In season be sure to visit the nearby Zane Grey Museum. It is all run by the National park Service.

I remember handing a twenty five cent toll to the toll taker to drive over the bridge. Now if one walks over the bridge and looks to the south you can see V shaped eel traps made of rocks that were built by Indians long ago. very cool.

The National Park Service has done a great job restoring the bridge. It is well worth taking the time to stop and walk over, especially since it is free.

The one lane bridge that connects PA to NY state was an aqueduct that also carried barges. Visit the old toll house.

It's a bridge from 1847 built by the guy that built the Brooklyn Bridge. You can walk across and drive across but that's about it. Interesting history is the fact that it was part of a canal. If you are in the area worth a 5 minute stop if you are a history buff.

Interesting side trip for history buffs. Provides a nice history of the bridge and canals. Unfortunately due to poor sign placement we traveled twenty five minutes out of our way.

This bridge was built as a aqueduct over the river for coal barges. Mules pulled the barges and the tow-paths are here for you to walk across. A great spot to see Bald Eagles, Red Tail Hawks, Turkey Vultures and other birds. There is information at the parking lots on either side with bridge info. This is a single lane bridge and if a car is coming the other way you have to stop and wait for the bridge to clear, no traffic lights here!

The view up and down the river while walking over the bridge was awesome! All the historical information provided and markers really made something a simple as taking a walk a really neat experience.

Neat history of the D&H canal and how the Roebling Aquaduct fit in. Now a one lane suspension bridge between new York and PA.

Very cool - built by the same guy who also designed the Brooklyn Bridge - yea; that Roebling. Very interesting pictures and information about the canal system that used to be in the area.

This bridge is an interesting place to stop for about 10/15 minutes. You can tune your radio to listen to some information about the bridge and they also have some good information boards at the parking lot end of the bridge.

As we crossed a bridge over the Delaware River on the way to Zane Grey's river home, I thought it was odd that a bridge over such a scenic area would be built with high solid walls. The volunteer at the Grey house explained what it was recommended a stop on the way back. We were are so glad we took his advice. The idea of routing a barge canal through a 500+ foot long aqueduct to pass high over another river just boggled my mind. The National Park Service did a marvelous job on the refurbishment of this aqueduct/bridge, placing information placards in strategic locations to explain how it was erected and used. The weight of the whole structure and the 2,000 tons of water it carried were supported by a pair of 8 ½ inch suspension cables that was woven, each using 2150 wires bundled into seven strands. The support cables were woven on-site, under the direct supervision of Mr. Roebling and ran from the anchor on one side of the Delaware, draped over iron saddles on the top of three supporting stone piers, to the anchor on the other side of the Delaware. Wooden frames were used to provide the level base for the aqueduct (later the roadway). A visit to this site would probably be a hit with young and old who like to understand how things are built.

I have been to this bridge several times but this Mother's Day is the first time I crossed over it. The bridge is built by John Roebling; the same man that designed and build the Brooklyn Bridge. It was an aqueduct at one time but now a bridge. If you ride across the one lane bridge in your car, you can't see the river at all. We went over to NY, turned around and came right back to the town of Lackawaxen, Pennsylvania. On this particular day we ate at the Inn at Lackawaxen (from NY you would get off the bridge and make a left), have stayed at the Roebling Inn on the Delaware and visited the Zane Grey museum as well as strolled past the old cemetery(from NY you would get off the bridge and make a right). We have also taken our Boy Scouts canoeing down the Delaware River and seen this beautiful bridge from below. Amazing to think that such a famous person built it in this tiny town. Drive off the beaten path a little and take a drive to this bridge.