Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Chefs Aruss Lerlerstkull and Atcharaporn Kiatthanawat lean into regional traditions.
Charmgang
The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.
Gedhawa
At Nai Mong Hoi Thod, the oyster omelet is worth waiting for.
Nai Mong Hoi Thod
In this deceptively simple dish, top-quality ingredients are paramount.
Kor Panich
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
3 days ago
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
3 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
4 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
6 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Massachusetts Newton Echo Bridge

Echo Bridge

A historic bridge with a lovely acoustic anomaly.

Newton, Massachusetts

Added By
Joshua Foer
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Echo Bridge   Wiki User: Rubyk
Echo Bridge   Wiki User: Rubyk
Underneath the arch of Echo Bridge.   Flickr User: Lorianne DiSabato
Stereograph of Echo Bridge in the late 1800s.   Boston Public Library
  TheDiscoveryService / Atlas Obscura User
  TheDiscoveryService / Atlas Obscura User
  philtuths / Atlas Obscura User
  philtuths / Atlas Obscura User
  GerhardM / Atlas Obscura User
  jhonquintero90 / Atlas Obscura User
  chris brat / Atlas Obscura User
  chris brat / Atlas Obscura User
“BWW” (Boston Water Works) insignia on the railing of the aquaduct/bridge   chris brat / Atlas Obscura User
  chris brat / Atlas Obscura User
view of the falls from atop the aquaduct/bridge   chris brat / Atlas Obscura User
  xcountryqt35 / Atlas Obscura User
  chris brat / Atlas Obscura User
  xcountryqt35 / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

This hemlock-lined vision of architectural beauty comes with its own unique sound effects. 

Completed in 1877, Echo Bridge is a scenic arch that connects the two banks of the Charles River over Hemlock Gorge. At the time of its construction it was the second longest masonry arch in the country and a vital part of the Needham/Newton Upper Falls aqueduct, but these days it serves as a great place to take in a breathtaking view, and a curious novelty due to its amazing echo. 

A platform that was built specifically for visitors to play around with this aural anomaly can be found at the bottom of a set of stairs that lead underneath the bridge—an impressive echo that returns up to 15 reverberations of the human voice, and a loud, sharp sound such as a pistol shot can repeat as many as 25 times. The impressive echo is caused by the sound bouncing horizontally between the water and the bridge's arch, although another theory is that the echoes are caused by the shape of the arch being just the right angle to direct the sound around the inside of the arch like a whispering gallery such as the one that can be found in the Grand Central Terminal or London's St. Paul Cathedral. The echoes return at the rate of roughly four echoes per second, and regardless of how it occurs, delights all those who descend the stairs to experiment with the acoustic oddity.

Related Tags

Whispering Gallery Bridges Architectural Oddities Architecture

Know Before You Go

There is a small public parking lot located directly across the "Hemlock Gorge & Echo Bridge" sign on Ellis Street. The bridge spans the Charles River between Needham and Newton.

 

Community Contributors

Added By

Josh

Edited By

Rachel, TheDiscoveryService, GerhardM, philtuths...

  • Rachel
  • TheDiscoveryService
  • GerhardM
  • philtuths
  • jhonquintero90
  • chris brat
  • xcountryqt35
  • dlnebf

Published

February 21, 2013

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://www.sonicwonders.org/echo-bridge-massachusetts/
Echo Bridge
Echo Bridge
Newton, Massachusetts, 02464
United States
42.314782, -71.226983
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Battle Dioramas at Newton City Hall

Newton, Massachusetts

miles away

Babson Globe

Wellesley, Massachusetts

miles away

'Ominous Ikon #6 and Yaddo Study'

Wellesley, Massachusetts

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Newton

Newton

Massachusetts

Places 4

Nearby Places

Battle Dioramas at Newton City Hall

Newton, Massachusetts

miles away

Babson Globe

Wellesley, Massachusetts

miles away

'Ominous Ikon #6 and Yaddo Study'

Wellesley, Massachusetts

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Newton

Newton

Massachusetts

Places 4

Related Places

  • Lansing, West Virginia

    Bridge Walk

    In West Virginia, you can walk across the longest single-arch bridge in the Western Hemisphere.

    Sponsored by West Virginia Department of Tourism
  • Pause to admire Jože Plečnik’s masterpiece.

    Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Triple Bridge

    Inspired by the Rialto Bridge in Venice, these three clustered bridges were just one part of a Slovenian architect’s grand vision.

  • Græshoppebroen (Grasshopper Bridge)

    Karrebæksminde, Denmark

    Græshoppebroen (Grasshopper Bridge)

    This distinctive bug-like bridge is made of recycled horseshoes.

  • Rope bridge “Lisicite”

    Lisitsite, Bulgaria

    Lisitsite Rope Bridge

    At almost 900 feet long, this is Bulgaria's longest suspension bridge and the only way to reach the small village of Lisitsite.

  • Wheatfield, Indiana

    Dunn’s Bridge

    This bridge was constructed from the remains of the first Ferris wheel.

  • Tower of Wind.

    Kawasaki, Japan

    Tower of Wind

    Curious onlookers have suspected this strange structure is a secret government base.

  • Vauxhall bridge “Architechture”

    London, England

    Vauxhall Bridge's Miniature St. Paul's Cathedral

    A tiny replica of the iconic London landmark hides on the side of the steel structure.

  • Henderson Waves.

    Singapore

    Henderson Waves

    The highest pedestrian bridge in Singapore looks like a series of undulating waves rising between two public parks.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.