5 Iconic Bridges That Connect America

Completed in 1937, this suspension masterpiece is instantly recognizable by its signature International Orange hue. Spanning the 1-mile strait between San Francisco and Marin County, it was built to withstand the region's fierce Pacific gales and heavy ocean fog.

Crossing the bridge—either by car or on the designated pedestrian walkway—opens up a dramatic panoramic view where the rugged cliffs of the Marin Headlands meet the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean, all set against the backdrop of the glittering San Francisco skyline.

An emblem of 19th-century innovation, the Brooklyn Bridge opened in 1883 as the first steel-wire suspension bridge ever constructed. Its majestic neo-Gothic towers and intricate web of steel cables stretch across the East River.

Walking along the elevated pedestrian boardwalk provides an unobstructed view of Lower Manhattan's towering skyscrapers, the waters of the East River, and the distant, stoic silhouette of the Statue of Liberty.

Nestled along California’s legendary Highway 1, the Bixby Creek Bridge is a stunning single-span concrete arch.  Completed in 1932, it stands as a testament to public works engineering, seamlessly integrating a soaring human-made structure with a wildly volatile natural environment.

Looking out from the bridge rewards travelers with a visual cocktail of the rugged, steep cliffs of Big Sur plunging abruptly into the crashing, turquoise waves of the Pacific Ocean.

Spanning 3,031 feet, this steel arch bridge was an engineering marvel when it opened in 1977, significantly cutting travel time through the Appalachian Mountains from 45 minutes to just under a minute. Rising 876 feet above the New River, it ranks as one of the highest bridges in the world.

Despite its name, the New River is one of the oldest on the continent! Peer down into New River Gorge National Park as it cuts through dense Appalachian forest—a view that transforms into a brilliant tapestry of red, orange, and gold every autumn.

Suspended above the turquoise waters where the Gulf of Mexico meets the Atlantic, the modern Seven Mile Bridge stretches seamlessly from Knight’s Key to Little Duck Key. Right beside this 1982 marvel stands the ghost of its predecessor—the original 1912 railway bridge, left fractured by the devastating hurricane of 1935.

Driving along this expansive overwater highway delivers an almost infinite view of deep blue ocean meeting emerald-green shallows, creating the illusion of driving directly across the sea.