Niagara Suspension Bridge.

PrinterPrinted by E.B. & E.C. Kellogg American, 1840 - 1867

PublisherPublished by E.B. & E.C. Kellogg American, 1840 - 1867

PublisherPublished by D. M. Dewey American, 1819 - 1889

Date1856-1857

MediumLithography; printer's ink and watercolor on wove paper

DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (image height x width): 8 1/8 x 13 3/16in. (20.6 x 33.5cm)
Sheet (height x width): 12 1/4 x 16 1/2in. (31.1 x 41.9cm)

ClassificationsGraphics

Credit LineGift of Samuel St. John Morgan

DescriptionLarge central image of a railroad train crossing a suspension bridge, surrounded by twelve vignettes showing various views of Niagara Falls and the Niagara River, including the waterfall itself, rapids, a whirlpool, an observation tower, a monument in the form of a broken column, and a fort. The central image includes a man and a woman, who stand on a grassy lawn, looking toward the river, the bridge, and the waterfall in the distance. Two tree stumps and evergreen trees are nearby. Birds perch on the bare branches of a bush in the right foreground. A large American flag flies from a pole at the left end of the bridge. A large Canadian flag flies from a pole at the right end. A small steamboat is on the river. Smoke issues from the smokestack of the locomotive. Clouds are in the sky.

Object number1950.187.0

InscribedOn recto, lithographed title above image, "NIAGARA AND ITS WONDERS.", below image, "NIAGARA SUSPENSION BRIDGE. / John A. Roebling, Engineer and Architect. Cost about $500,000." Additional text beneath image: "Length of span from centre to centre of Towers 800 Feet / Height of Tower above rock on the American Side 88 " / " " " " " " " Canadian Side... 78 " / " " " " Floor of Railway...... 60 " / " track " Water........ 258 " / Number of Wire Cables.......... 4 " [sic] / Diameter of each Cable....... 10 1/4 ins. / Number of No. 9 wires in each Cable..... 3659 / Ultimate agregate strength of Cables.... 12,400 tons / Weight of Superstructure....... 800 tons / Weight of Superstructure & maximum loads....... 1250 tons / Maximum weight the Cable, & stays will support.... 1350 " / Base of Towers...... 16 ft. sq. / Top of Towers..... 8 ft. sq. / Length of each upper cable...... 1256 1/2 Feet / " " lower " ......... 1190 " / Depth of Anchor pits below surface of rock 20 to 30 " / Outside width of Rail Road Floor...... 24 " / Inside " " " ........ 22 " / Total length of Wire in Miles........ 4000 " [sic]". Captions beneath vignettes: "THE HORSE-SHOE FALLS FROM THE FERRY, CANADA SHORE." "NIAGARA FALLS FROM POINT VIEW, AMERICAN SIDE." "HORSE-SHOE FALLS FROM BELOW THE TOWER." "THE TOWER, FROM THE HEAD OF THE BRIDGE." "THE AMERICAN FALL BY MOONLIGHT." "BROCK'S MONUMENT." "THE AMERICAN RAPIDS, FROM THE BRIDGE." "VIEW OF FORT ONTARIO." "THE SUSPENSION BRIDGE FROM THE MAID OF THE MIST." "THE WHIRLPOOL, FROM THE CANADA SIDE." "BANK BELOW THE WHIRLPOOL." "THE CAVE OF THE WINDS." In pencil, lower left, "91".

On verso, in red ink, upper left, "823". In pencil: "823"; lower right, "Drawer 26" "CPC consv 1987" and "Print / Box 7 / #21 [upsidedown]".NotesSubject Note: The Niagara Suspension Bridge was completed in 1855.

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