HIll-Climber bicycle history - Lake Alvord Bridge


The Alvord Lake Bridge in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Photos on this page were taken there in 2007. I believe the original bicycle photo session was taken in late 1902, probably as a publicity roll-out to introduce what would have been a state-of-the-art bicycle at the time. The bridge, designed by Ernest L Ransome of New York, and built in 1889, is a reinforced concrete arch bridge over a pedestrian walkway. It is believed to be the oldest concrete bridge in the United States that used steel reinforcing bars to improve the integrity of the structure. It survived the great earthquake and fire of 1906. On this site under BIOGRAPHIES, read the moving letter from Lena Scharbach about the Scharbach family experience during the fire. The span is only about 29 feet. The face of the bridge is hammered concrete imitating stonework. The interior simulates a cave with stalactites, to connect thematically with a children's playground at the time. To see some era postcard views of this park, use this link http://www.alamedainfo.com/golden_gate_park_postcards.htm and scroll to mid-page. To see a crude video of this bridge, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQLh4pKAn_U

The Alvord Lake Bridge in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Photos on this page were taken there in 2007. I believe the original bicycle photo session was taken in late 1902, probably as a publicity roll-out to introduce what would have been a state-of-the-art bicycle at the time.

The bridge, designed by Ernest L Ransome of New York, and built in 1889, is a reinforced concrete arch bridge over a pedestrian walkway. It is believed to be the oldest concrete bridge in the United States that used steel reinforcing bars to improve the integrity of the structure. It survived the great earthquake and fire of 1906. On this site under BIOGRAPHIES, read the moving letter from Lena Scharbach about the Scharbach family experience during the fire.

The span is only about 29 feet. The face of the bridge is hammered concrete imitating stonework. The interior simulates a cave with stalactites, to connect thematically with a children's playground at the time.

To see some era postcard views of this park, use this link http://www.alamedainfo.com/golden_gate_park_postcards.htm and scroll to mid-page.

To see a crude video of this bridge, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQLh4pKAn_U