Afrolumens Project  home pageEnslavement
to
freedom
Violent Decade Home
 
 
Father Jones' Main Page logo


Harrisburg on the eve of Civil War

Study Areas


Enslavement

Anti-Slavery

Free Persons of Color

Underground Railroad

The Violent Decade

US Colored Troops

Civil War

Year of Jubilee (1863)

20th Century History

Old Camel Back Bridge

Plaque for the Camel Back Bridge

Market Street, Harrisburg, PA

Nicknamed "Camel Back" for its undulating design, the original Market Street Bridge opened in 1816 as the first bridge across the Susquehanna River at Harrisburg. At nearly three-quarters of a mile in length, the bridge opened the market for Cumberland Valley farm goods in Harrisburg. Designer and builder Theodore Burr built five bridges across the Susquehanna River: at Berwick, Columbia, Harrisburg, Northumberland and Port Deposit (Maryland).

Fugitive slaves crossed the Susquehanna River at Harrisburg over this bridge, and refugees crossed this bridge to escape invading Confederate forces in June 1863. The eastern span of this bridge was destroyed by a major flood in 1846 and replaced the following year by a more conventional covered bridge.

Previous Next
      Previous Button  Next Button

All photographs and text on this page copyright © 2010 George F. Nagle and Afrolumens Project.

Notes and Links

Of Interest Nearby

 

 

About the AP | Contact AP | Mission Statement