Bridges of Columbia

The first bridge from Columbia to Wrightsville was built in 1814 over the Susquehanna River between the two current bridges. This bridge was destroyed by ice and flooding in 1832.

A second, covered bridge was then built that stretched over a mile long across the Susquehanna. A towpath was later added for horses, donkeys, and mules to tow canal boats from the Mainline Canal on the Columbia side to the Tidewater and Susquehanna Canal on the Wrightsville side.

On June 28, 1868, this bridge was burned down by townspeople in order to keep Confederate forces from advancing North.

Confederate troops had planned to cross the Susquehanna and gain access to important sites to the east and north of the Susquehanna Valley, like Philadelphia, Harrisburg, and New York.

Union General Jacob Frick, in order to escape government liability, delegated the task of doing “ whatever necessary ” to prevent the rebels from crossing the river to a local railroad engineer named Robert Crane.

Crane coordinated a group of townspeople including Jacob Miller, possibly a former slave, John Q. Denny, Jacob Rich, and John Lockard to burn the bridge. John Q. Denny

The group entered from the Columbia side of the river and planned to destroy only a small portion in the center of the bridge to render it impassable.

When their first efforts did not damage the bridge enough, they doused the bridge with a flammable accelerant. In 6 hours the entire structure had burned down.

Confederate troops were then forced to retrace their steps west towards Gettysburg, where the famous Battle of Gettysburg was held.

The pillars from this bridge still stand in the Susquehanna, right along the Lincoln Highway bridge. Photo courtesy of the Columbia Historic Preservation Society

Each year, the river towns celebrate this union victory in the annual Burning of the Bridge.

The bridge was rebuilt in 1868 with its piers strengthened. It lasted until 1896, when it was destroyed by a strong hurricane. Photo courtesy of the Columbia Historic Preservation Society

The Pennsylvania Railroad built a 4 th bridge of steel atop the old piers in 1897 in only 21 days. The bridge was strictly a railroad. Ferries transported foot traffic from one bank to the other.

A walkway was later added which pedestrians could use for a small fare. Photo courtesy of the Columbia Historic Preservation Society

A new bridge was later built for vehicular traffic which opened in 1930, 140 days ahead of schedule. It became Lincoln Highway.

Construction of the archways in the bridge. Photo courtesy of the Columbia Historic Preservation Society

In 1972, the sixth and most recent bridge was built further north along the Susquehanna to accommodate increasing traffic. It is part of Route 30. Photo courtesy of the Columbia Historic Preservation Society

The history of Columbia and the river towns is deeply rooted in the many bridges that have been constructed across the Susquehanna. For more information on bridges, the Civil War, or the history of the surrounding area, speak with one of our volunteers! Photo courtesy of the Columbia Historic Preservation Society