Panther Hollow Bridge

Panther Hollow Bridge
Panther Hollow Bridge from Panther Hollow Lake in Schenley Park.
Coordinates40°26′13″N 79°56′48″W / 40.43694°N 79.94667°W / 40.43694; -79.94667
CrossesPanther Hollow
LocalePittsburgh, Pennsylvania
TypeStructure
DesignatedJuly 26, 2002[1]
Designated2000
Location
Map
Panther Hollow Bridge with Panther sculpture by Moretti (Cathedral of Learning in background)

The Panther Hollow Bridge is an American steel, three-hinged, deck arch bridge that carries Panther Hollow Road over Panther Hollow in Schenley Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Notable features

This bridge, which is located in the city's Oakland district, has a main span of 360 feet (110 m), total length 620 feet (190 m), and arches 120 feet (37 m) above the hollow. It was built between 1895 and 1896, roughly contemporaneously with the nearby Schenley Bridge. Panther Hollow Bridge may be easily distinguished by its monumental bronze sculptures by Giuseppe Moretti of four panthers, crouching as sentinels, on each bridge corner. The bridge also lacks the chain link type of fencing that is installed on the Schenley Bridge.[2]

Panther Hollow Lake, a recreation spot, lies just west of the bridge.

History

The Panther Hollow Bridge was one of the many Schenley Park improvements completed during the tenure of Pittsburgh director of public works Edward Manning Bigelow. Construction began in August 1895[3] and the bridge was opened to vehicular traffic in November 1896.[4]

The four bronze panthers were added in 1897. They were sculpted by Giuseppe Moretti and cast by the Gorham Manufacturing Company in Providence, Rhode Island. Only two of the panthers were dedicated on the Fourth of July in 1897, as the other two were not delivered in time for the ceremony.[5]

The bridge was most recently rehabilitated 1999. In October 2024 it was closed "amid an abundance of caution" due to the deterioration on at least one of the four steel trusses holding it up.[6]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "Local Historic Designations". Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 2011-08-11.
  2. ^ "Panther Hollow Bridge". Bridges & Tunnels of Allegheny County & Pittsburgh, PA. Retrieved August 26, 2022.
  3. ^ "Tree Planting in Schenley". Pittsburgh Commercial Gazette. August 19, 1895. Retrieved August 26, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Flowers in Plenty; Now He Wants Land". Pittsburg Post. November 9, 1896. Retrieved August 26, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Panthers in Bronze". Pittsburg Press. July 3, 1897. Retrieved August 26, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Pittsburgh closes Panther Hollow Bridge amid safety concerns". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 19 October 2024. Retrieved 19 October 2024.

References

  • Kidney, Walter C. (1997). Pittsburgh's Landmark Architecture: The Historic Buildings of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation. ISBN 0-916670-18-X.
  • Toker, Franklin (1994) [1986]. Pittsburgh: An Urban Portrait. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press. ISBN 0-8229-5434-6.
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