Historic Metal Truss Bridges

Metal truss bridges embody the dramatic evolution of the transportation network in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Maintenance and preservation of these structures is often complex, requiring not only the work of preservationists, but also the expertise of engineers, municipal governments, and highway departments. In 1994, the Preservation League of New York State awarded Historic Ithaca a grant to create a survey of historic metal truss bridges in Tompkins County. HI later facilitated discussion of these structures in a two day conference, entitled “The Span of Time: Historic Metal Truss Bridges in the Modern World,” in 1995. In 1996, the JM Kaplan Fund awarded HI a grant to publish the conference preceedings. This work has furthered the discussion around planning for the future of these bridges.

Newsletters: December 1994, annual review 1994, September 1996