Bear Mountain Bridge Marks Centennial With Festivities Spanning Many Interests

HIGHLAND, NY—The countdown has begun in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the venerable Bear Mountain Bridge, the Hudson River’s first vehicular crossing south of Albany. Activities between July and November include an online pop-up shop, guided hiking tours, an art workshop, an international engineering conference, and a dedication ceremony.

“The Bear Mountain Bridge is truly an icon of the Hudson Valley and New York State,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said. “The bridge was a remarkable engineering achievement in 1924 and has been a mainstay of our transportation network ever since. I encourage my fellow New Yorkers to come together to honor its legacy and envision the possibilities that lie for us on the road ahead as we continue to move our state forward.”

Fans of the Bear Mountain Bridge are encouraged to check out the latest BMB100 Online Pop-Up Shop, open now through July 15. The e-commerce site offers a variety of unique gifts commemorating the 100th anniversary of the bridge. Noteworthy items include prints and notecards featuring the work of Hudson Valley artists John F. Gould (1906-1996) and his son Paul Gould.

The Bear Mountain Bridge first opened to the general public on Nov, 27, 1924.

On Sat., Aug. 3, painting lessons will be offered by local artist Stasia Fernandez, as participants take in views of the bridge from the vantage point of Fort Montgomery State Historic Site. Participants of all artistic levels will be treated to beautiful and historic views, learn new painting skills and historical knowledge, while also bringing home a canvas of their own work.

On Wed., Aug. 7, National Purple Heart Day, the Bridge Authority will host a tribute to local Purple Heart recipients at the bridge, sponsored by the nonprofit Historic Bridges of the Hudson Valley. In 2018, the bridge received the ceremonial designation of “Purple Heart Veterans Memorial Bear Mountain Bridge,” in honor of Purple Heart recipients and in recognition of the area’s rich military history. Any veteran who has received the Purple Heart is encouraged to contact the Authority at [email protected] to be put on the notification list for this event.

On Sat., Sept. 7, the Bridge Authority will team up with New York State Parks to present the next installment in their “Bridges to Parks” guided hike series, this time centered on the Bear Mountain Bridge and the nearby state parks that it connects. Multiple hike options for various interests and abilities will be offered.

The Bear Mountain Bridge was dedicated on Nov. 26, 1924, and opened to the general public a day later on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27, 1924. It was a groundbreaking engineering achievement for its time, being the first vehicular bridge over the Hudson River south of Albany and the first suspension bridge with a concrete deck.

On Sunday, Nov. 24, just days before the 100th anniversary of the bridge’s dedication and opening, NYSBA will host a ceremony to commemorate the bridge centennial.

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