Photo Credit: Marisa Shincovich		 Kinzua Viaduct Restoration

We request that the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of State Parks, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the governmental agencies of the United States of America take all the necessary steps to find the funding to repair and restore the Kinzua Viaduct, located at the Kinzua Bridge State Park, McKean County, Pennsylvania.

The Kinzua Viaduct is both a National Historic Place and a National Historic Engineering Landmark. This remarkable structure, first constructed in 1882, is a sample of the genius of invention, and should be preserved and restored for future generations.

We fully support the efforts of the Kinzua Bridge Foundation, Inc., the Allegheny National Forest Vacation Bureau, and the McKean County Planning Commission in requesting your assistance to help "Save the Bridge".

To sign this petition please click here.

ALERT - July 2003
As you may know the Kinzua Viaduct, located in Mt. Jewett, Pennsylvania was struck by a tornado on Monday, July 21, 2003. This act of nature resulted in the loss of 11 towers that have supported the Kinzua Viaduct in its reach across the sky for over a 100 years. Internationally recognized as an architectural and engineering marvel, the Kinzua Viaduct was one of Pennsylvania's most visually recognizable landmarks. DCNR is to be commended in their quick response in sending engineers to survey the damage, and their commitment to reopen the park as quickly as possible.
We are receiving 100s of e-mails per day regarding the loss of the structure, and what the plans are regarding restoration.
The particular comment below captures the heart and soul of the Viaduct, and is a heart felt plea to save this part of Pennsylvania's heritage. We can only echo the sentiments expressed and respectfully request that you become our champions in restoration, renovation, and reinvention of the Kinzua Bridge State Park as a premier destination within the PA Park System.

Sincerely,
Linda Devlin
Allegheny National Forest Vacation Bureau
814-368-9370
E-mail:devlin@allegheny-vacation.com

Sirs:
While I have lived in Los Angeles for the last 30 years, I was born and raised in Kane, and walked over and enjoyed the Kinzua Bridge long before it became a "tourist" attraction,, back in the days when you had to walk thru the woods to get to the bridge, and there were no "signs"to tell you the history of the bridge. Over the course of my youth I visited the bridge many times, the last being in 1986, when I brought my "born and raised in LA" wife to see what a small town was like. No "Reality Show" on television today ( by the way, I have worked in the TV business in LA for the last 30 years) could ever capture the "awe" expressed by a "LA Native" at seeing the forest surrounding the Kinzua Bridge, much less the "dumbfounded look on her face" as we walked out over the gorge. None of the "magic" of Hollywood could ever have competed with Kinzua Bridge, because it was real, and not "rear screen" projected !!!!

I have to admit, that I did not know that the bridge was built in 100 days, almost 130 years ago. When I read that fact in the story of the bridge falling down, I was speechless, for one, because I was terribly sad that it had fallen, and at the same time, I was thinking that in "Todays world", what a great lesson of how well,and quickly, something as amazing as building that bridge in 100 days USED to be possible. To build that same bridge today, the "studies" alone would take years !!!!

I doubt that the bridge will ever be restored to it's previous splendor, because there is simply no money to be made by doing so, but all the same, what a pity that future generations will not be able to see with their own eyes a 130 year old "wonder", and maybe fashion their own lives around the concept of " what if??". There are no words to really express a "feeling" which is what I have tried to do here...but I personally believe that even if there is no money to be made by "reconstructing" the bridge, it should be done, because in the world where we take 100 story buildings for granted,and never give them a second thought, no one could ever walk across the gorge on the Kinzua Bridge and not think "WOW, how could this have ever been done in 1882, and be able to carry the heaviest steam locomotive ever made? !!!"

Thank you for your time
William Johnson
August 23, 2002
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources closes viaduct to pedestrian traffic. Engineers say the bridge may become unstable under certain wind conditions. Understructure shows rusting and deterioration of the steel, and the steel girder connections.

June 27, 2002

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources closes viaduct to train traffic. Summer 2002-Pennsylvania at Risk 2002 Kinzua Viaduct listed as one of top ten Most Endangered Historic Properties in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

National, State, and Regional Importance

National Engineering Landmark-one of only 59 bridges worldwide. Unique example of American Engineering and Technology- 2053 feet long, 301 feet high At the time of completion it was the "Longest and Highest Railroad Bridge in the World."

The Kinzua Bridge is located in McKean County, Pennsylvania.

1882 Kinzua Viaduct constructed in iron by a crew of approximately 100 men in 94 days. Site engineer Octave Chanute-famous for work on the New York City elevated railroad, the Hannibal Bridge in Missouri, early aviation pioneer

1900 Viaduct rebuilt using steel to support increased locomotive weights and transport loads.

1975 Kinzua Bridge State Park dedicated and opened to the public

1977 Listed on the National Register and certified as a National Civil Engineering Landmark

1987 Knox & Kane Train begins operation of tourist excursion over the Kinzua Viaduct

2001 Pennsylvania Department of Transportation designations STATE ROUTE 3011 access road to the viaduct Pennsylvania's First Scenic Byway -"Kinzua Bridge Scenic Byway"


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