The construction of the Arlington Memorial Bridge across the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States, lasted seven years. The bridge, designed by McKim, Mead, and White in a neoclassical style, was authorized by Congress in February 1925 and was completed in January 1932. As a memorial, its decorative features were extensive and intricate, and resolving the design issues over these details took many years. Tall columns and pylons topped by statuary, Greek Revival temple-like structures, and statue groups were proposed for the ends of the bridge. Carvings and inscriptions were planned for the sides of the bridge, and extensive statuary for the bridge piers.
The bridge itself took far longer than the anticipated two years. Problems were encountered in building the foundations, accidents occurred, and the construction of the bascule (or drawbridge) span was complex and lengthy. Construction of the termini and completion of the memorial details lasted until 1938, six years after the bridge opened. Budget problems created in part by the Great Depression meant that portions of the bridge project were never completed.
Construction of the bridge's western terminus involved extensively enlarging an island in the Potomac River, building bridges between this island and the Virginia mainland, building a new ceremonial entrance at Arlington National Cemetery, and creating a memorial drive to connect the cemetery to the bridge. The bridge's eastern approaches were equally as complex, and required construction of a plaza to the west of the Lincoln Memorial, connecting the bridge to the Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway, and building a "watergate" (marble steps) to given the public access to the river.
Genesis and over-arching design of the Arlington Memorial Bridge
Congress first proposed a bridge at the site of the current Arlington Memorial Bridge on May 24, 1886.Horne, p. 253. Numerous designs were suggested from official and unofficial sources, but no design was acceptable. On March 4, 1913, Congress enacted the Public Buildings Act which, among other things, created and funded an Arlington Memorial Bridge Commission (AMBC) whose purpose was to settle on a design for the bridge and report back to Congress. But Congress appropriated no money for the commission's operation due to the onset of World War I, and it remained inactive.Sherrill, p. 21-25 Accessed 2013-04-15. In the wake of a major traffic jam on the Highway Bridge during the dedication of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Congress appropriated $25,000 on June 12, 1922, to fund the work of the bridge commission.Kohler, The Commission of Fine Arts: A Brief History, p. 16; "President Urges Funds for Bridge." Washington Post. January 14, 1922; Arlington Memorial Bridge Commission, p. 30.
In December 1922, the Arlington Memorial Bridge Commission held a joint meeting with the United States Commission of Fine Arts (CFA). The two agencies agreed to build a bridge from the west end of the National Mall to Arlington National Cemetery.Horne, p. 255, 257. The parties also agreed to seek to construct a low (rather than monumental) bridge with a bascule (drawbridge) in the center to permit ship traffic to reach the Georgetown waterfront.
The AMBC chose the architectural firm of McKim, Mead & White to design the bridge. Architect William Mitchell Kendall was the lead designer.Kohler, The Commission of Fine Arts: A Brief History, p. 17. Kendall's first design was submitted to the CFA in May 1923, and the basic bridge design—which included eastern and western approaches, a design for Columbia Island, a treatment for the main entrance at Arlington National Cemetery, and more—was given approval in late 1923."Bridge Models Exhibited." Washington Post. February 8, 1924.
Congress enacted legislation in early 1925 authorizing the AMBC to construct the bridge.Weingroff, Richard F. "Dr. S. M. Johnson - A Dreamer of Dreams." Highway History. Office of Infrastructure and Transportation Performance. Federal Highway Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. April 7, 2011. Accessed 2013-04-15. Legal issues regarding the bridge commission's authority to issue contracts were resolved in early 1927, allowing construction to proceed."Memorial Bridge Bids Will Be Let, Ignoring M'Carl." Washington Post. January 7, 1926; "Bridge Commission to Study Contract for Memorial Span." Washington Post. February 17, 1926; "House Action Fails to Halt Bridge Work." Washington Post. January 14, 1927. The goal was to construct a bridge from the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. across the Potomac River to Virginia, aligned with a new main gate at Arlington National Cemetery. The bridge was also to be memorial in nature, celebrating the unification of the country in the wake of the American Civil War, and thus was to have memorial features such as sculptural elements and grand approaches.Moeller and Feldblyum, p. 279.
The United States Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) had legal authority to approve the design and architectural style of the bridge. However, the United States Army Corps of Engineers had legal authority over the construction of public works in the District of Columbia. These two bodies agreed in late 1923 to construct a nine-span, long drawbridge made of steel and reinforced concrete faced in white granite. The bridge required four abutments, one on each shoreline and one on either side of the draw (or bascule) span.Arlington Memorial Bridge, HAER No. DC-7, p. 4. The abutments had to be erected on bedrock. The bridge was relatively low to the water,Originally, there was no land west of the Washington Monument grounds and south of Constitution Avenue NW; this area was a tidal inlet of the Potomac River. Beginning in 1881, the Potomac River was dredged to bedrock and the material used to fill in this inlet By 1900, what is now the western half of the National Mall, West Potomac Park, and East Potomac Park were nearly complete. But they remained barren, with no pathways, sidewalks, plantings, monuments, or memorials. The Senate Park Commission's 1902 McMillan Plan envisioned a major memorial placed on the new shoreline of the Potomac River in West Potomac Park. It also planned a watergate to the west of this memorial, and a formal entrance to a proposed parkway to run along the shores of the Potomac River and then north alongside Rock Creek. The bridge had to be low to the water so it would not compete visually with either the proposed memorial or Arlington House at Arlington National Cemetery. The McMillan Plan's proposed memorial became the Lincoln Memorial, the proposed parkway the Rock Cree and Potomac Parkway, and the bridge the Arlington Memorial Bridge. Charles Follen McKim was a member of the Senate Park Commission, and his firm was the one chosen to design the bridge. The Commission of Fine Arts saw as its goal the preservation and implementation of the McMillan Plan. See: Gutheim and Lee, p. 139; Kohler, "The Commission of Fine Arts: Implementing the Senate Park Commission's Vision", p. 263; Helfrich, p. 301, 312. which meant the roadway would be only Christian, William Edmund. "The Arlington Memorial Bridge." Washington Post. November 1, 1925. and the underside of each span just above the low-water mark. The spans in the bridge sloped downward , and all engines, gears, lookout stations, bridge tenders' houses, and other drawbridge equipment were as far out of sight below deck as possible. The spans varied in width from near the shore to at the draw span. The roadway was in width, and sidewalks (each in width) ran down each side of the bridge."Arlington Bridge Structure Showing Visible Progress." Washington Post. March 13, 1927.The Army Corps of Engineers agreed to consider adding a bridle path to the bridge, but nothing came of this. See: "Bridle Path Is Urged for Arlington Bridge." Washington Post. June 29, 1926. A balustrade, long, was also planned. The balustrade was solid over the piers and abutments but turned spindles over the spans to permit maximum views of the river by motorists using the bridge."White House Drives Are Made Dustless." Washington Post. August 3, 1926.
Initially, there was little concern that the bridge's construction would be lengthy. Major Joseph Mehaffey of the Army Corps of Engineers stated in November 1925 that it would take two years to construct the abutments, two years to build the spans, and a year to erect the draw or bascule.
The eastern and western termini
The AMBC and CFA were not only concerned with constructing a bridge, but ensuring that the approachesAn "approach" is the road, ramp, or other feature that allows pedestrians or vehicles to access the bridge. to the bridge were appropriate for a grand memorial.
The eastern approaches consisted of the end of the bridge, a plaza, a watergate, and the streets which approached the bridge. For the bridge's entrance, the agencies approved two high pylons inscribed on all four sides with images representing national unity and common purpose. The agencies also planned major changes to B Street NW, a major D.C. city street funneling traffic to the bridge. B Street would be significantly widened to turn it into a vast ceremonial avenue, and its length extended past 23rd Street NW to the shore of the Potomac River (where a new pedestrian overlook would be constructed).Widening and lengthening B Street was one of the first decisions made by the Arlington Memorial Bridge Commission. That plan was made in April 1924. See: "Bridge to Arlington to Cost $14,750,000 Asked As Memorial." Washington Post. April 10, 1924. The AMBC's vision for B Street gradually became grander, so that by late 1927 the road was seen as a rival to Pennsylvania Avenue NW. See: "Engineers Plan Impressive Water Approach to City." Washington Post. September 6, 1927. The Potomac River terminus to B Street was never formally adopted by the AMBC or CFA, but designed and implemented by the Corps of Engineers in the spring of 1930. See: Office of Public Buildings and Public Parks of the National Capital, 1930, p. 80-81. B Street would also be connected to the Lincoln Memorial by a new road (now called Henry Bacon Drive)."Park Commission Accepts B Street Boulevard Plans." Washington Post. August 21, 1926; "B Street to Become 80-Foot Boulevard." Washington Post. September 18, 1926. 23rd Street NW was also to be widened to provide a more grand north–south route to the Lincoln Memorial. These roads, along with Ohio Drive SW, came together west of the Lincoln Memorial, where Kendall proposed a large, granite and marble traffic plaza across which traffic would flow. Since Congress authorized construction of the Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway in March 1913 and principal construction began in 1923,Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway. (Reservation Mo. 360) District of Columbia. HABS No. DC-697. Historic American Buildiiigs Survey. National Park Service. U.S. Department of the Interior. 1992, p. 1. Accessed 2013-09-23. a grand entrance to the parkway became part of the bridge project as well. Two high pylons with sculpture groups clustered about their bases were planned for this entrance.