Walnut Lane Bridge: 1908 - 2008

David Contosta to Speak at Cliveden

Come out to Cliveden this week for “Journey in the Wissahickon,” a presentation given by Dr. David Contosta and Dr. Carol L. Franklin. The talk is part of an ongoing series of monthly programs being held in conjunction with Cliveden’s Building Bridges: Linking Lives and Communities exhibit. The presentation will take place on May 8, at 7PM in Cliveden’s Carriage House.

The program is open to the general public at a cost of $5.00 per ticket. Members of the Walnut Lane Bridge Club receive free admission to the talk. The illustrated presentation will focus on the bridges of the Wissahickon, improvements made in Fairmount Park during the 20th century, and the role of the park in the lives of community members. For Contosta and Franklin, the discussion will be a preview of a book they co-authored coming out this fall which details the history of the Wissahickon.

Dr. Contosta is a Professor of History at Chestnut Hill College. He is the preeminent historian for Wissahickon history and is the author of 15 books and over 100 articles, reviews, and scholarly papers. Dr. Franklin is a nationally recognized expert in sustainable design and has been a professor of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning at the University of Pennsylvania for over 30 years.

Bridge Exhibition Opens at Cliveden Tommorrow!!!

The time has finally come. Building Bridges: Linking Lives and Communities will open tommorrow, May 1st, at Cliveden.  Come out to see this limited-run exhibition and help us celebrate 100 years of the Walnut Lane Bridge.  Exhibition is open daily, 12PM - 4PM, and is FREE for all visitors! 

Cliveden will be hosting monthly special events to commemorate the centennial of the bridge.  Join the Walnut Lane Bridge Club for $10 and get into all of the special bridge events throughout the year for FREE! 

Global Youth Service Day at the Walnut Lane Bridge

Thanks to all the students who showed up at the Walnut Lane Bridge this Saturday to help clean up a neighborhood landmark.  High school students traveled from all parts of the city (Overbrook HS in West Philly and Edison HS in North Philly) just to come out and get involved.  This was our second time cleaning the bridge in the past month and the area looks remarkably cleaner.  Its amazing what a few people can do in just a few hours! Special thanks to Steve Horton, David Bower and all other community members who helped to coordinate the service day. 

For more photos from the service day, please see the photo album titled "Global Youth Service Day" to the left.

Sneak Peak of Exhibition Installation

In just a few days, the Walnut Lane Bridge exhibition will open in Cliveden's Carriage House.  View the photo album titled "Exhibit Installation Preview" to catch a live look at Building Bridges: Linking Lives and Communities as it is being contructed. Exhibit Opening May 1st at Cliveden. 

Service Day at the Walnut Lane Bridge this Weekend!

Join us for National Youth Service Day at the Walnut Lane Bridge this weekend, April 26th, from 1130AM to 2PM.  We will again be cleaning up around the bridge, improving the trails, and beautifying the park.  Come out for a great day of community service and help us to save this historic landmark!

Who: Students, community members, preservationists, you!

Where: Walnut Lane Bridge (Corner of Johnson St. and Walnut Ln., Philadelphia, PA)

When: 12PM - 2PM (Registration at 11:30AM)

Why: To preserve a historic landmark and meet others from the community

How: Call 215-848-1777 to register

100 Years of the Walnut Lane Bridge: A Visual Presentation

Building Bridges, Linking Lives: The Walnut Lane Bridge at 100

- A visual presentation by David W. Young, Executive Director of Cliveden, a National Trust Historic Site.  Presenting the story of this historic bridge, including 70 recently discovered lantern-slides documenting the arduous effort to span the 147 foot Wissahickon ravine.

 

Thursday, April 17, 6:00-7:30 p.m. (galleries open at 5:30 p.m.)

Atwater Kent Museum of Philadelphia

15 South 7th Street (between Market and Chestnut streets)

Free with AKMP admission: adults, $5; seniors and ages 13-17, $3; Refreshments served.

Philly Spring Clean Up a Huge Success!

                   

Special thanks to all the volunteers who showed up on Saturday April, 5th for Philly Spring Clean Up!  Our clean up at the bridge was a huge success.  We threw out over 30 bags of trash from underneath and around the bridge and the area looks so much better!

Its amazing what 30 volunteers can do in 2 hours!  Please check the "Philly Spring Clean Up" folder to view pictures from our bridge cleanup!  Remember the next bridge cleanup is Saturday, April 26th from 11:30AM to 2:00PM...Hope to see you then! 

Discover the Bridge Blueprints!

Ever wondered how a bridge was built? Get a sneak peak at some of the blueprints for the construction of the Walnut Lane Bridge by clicking on the photo album Bridge Design Plans. These Lantern Slides will also be on display when the exhibition opens May 1st at Cliveden.

Save the Walnut Lane Bridge!

Cliveden will be organizing service opportunities at the Walnut Lane Bridge.  Join members from the community on April 5th (Philly Spring Cleanup) or April 26th (National Youth Service Day) from 12PM - 2PM to help save a neighborhood landmark. 

We will be cleaning up the trash underneath the bridge, repainting the guardrails, installing new signage, revitalizing the trails, and searching for bridge artifacts.  If you are a student in need of community service hours or are a community member who would simply like to come out and support the preservation of the bridge, please call 215-848-1777 for more details today!

Comfortable shoes are highly recommended, as are clothes that can stand a little wear & tear.  Rain or Shine!

Please see the Photo Album to the left marked "Trash at the Bridge" for more reasons why you should come out in April!

Seasonal Photos Now Available to View!

Photos of the Walnut Lane Bridge are now available for viewing. Check out the most recently added photo album, "Walnut Lane Bridge Seasonal Photos," by clicking on the link in the left sidebar of this page. Or just enjoy the slideshow below of the Walnut Lane Bridge during the fall and winter seasons!