Photographs of the Bridges
Terrace Bridge, Central Park, New York City
Terrace Bridge in Central Park, New York, is one of the most unusual and decorative bridges you will ever see. Constructed in 1863, the bridge carries a roadway, Terrace Drive, across a pedestrian underpass that connects The Mall to the Bethesda Terrace and Fountain.
The bridge is only part of a larger park/plaza complex near The Boathouse. The roadway itself is the least interesting part of the complex. Instead, it is the ornate, subterranean room hidden beneath the roadway that is the main attraction. The walls of this room are carved sandstone arcades painted with geometric designs, and the floor is red tile set in a pattern with granite. However, the highlight is the gorgeous tiled ceiling. The tiles are geometrically patterned in stunningly bright blue, white, red, and yellow, and each ceiling panel is framed in glazed dark blue and gold-colored trim. The subterranean space is a popular place for musicians to play for the enormous crowds taking in the view from the Terrace.
The Mall is not just a hiking path, but a wide promenade extending for more than a quarter-mile between the Zoo and the Terrace. Where The Mall meets Terrace Drive, it spreads out into a complex of gardens surrounded by carved sandstone and wrought-iron railings. At the northern end of the Mall, flanked by sandstone columns carved with deep reliefs, stairs lead down to the underpass beneath Terrace Drive. Instead of passing through a single stone arch, the stairs lead through three side-by-side carved sandstone arcades into the enormous subterranean room underneath the road. At the northern end of the large room, a series of seven more carved sandstone arches open out onto the Terrace itself. This area is overrun with more carved sandstone and polished granite decoration, statues, and views of the Lake.
There is a detailed description of a full tour of all here is a detailed description of a full tour of all 30+ bridges in Central Park in Chapter 9 of my book, Bridgespotting Part 2: A Guide to Even More Bridges that Connect People, Places, and Times.
