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All the United States New Jersey Trenton Lower Trenton Bridge

Lower Trenton Bridge

This Delaware River bridge is emblazoned with a catty slogan from a more prosperous time.

Trenton, New Jersey

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lex
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Lower Trenton Bridge   Ottseetotsee on Wikipedia
Lower Trenton Bridge   Ottseetotsee on Wikipedia
Lower Trenton Bridge   Bobjagendorf on Wikipedia
Takes   Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
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Trenton   Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
  tylercole / Atlas Obscura User
Bridge from Pennsylvania   Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
  spadaadjusting / Atlas Obscura User
Makes   Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
Lower Trenton Bridge   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
  Julius Spada / Atlas Obscura User
Daytime view from the highway   tracyshopping17 / Atlas Obscura User
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About

The Lower Trenton Bridge is a rather mundane bridge save for the huge, and hugely boastful, neon sign on its side.

Officially called the Lower Trenton Toll-Supported Bridge, and more commonly known as the "Trenton Makes" Bridge, this 1,022-foot span over the Delaware River connects New Jersey and Pennsylvania and was the first bridge to cross the Delaware when it opened in 1806. Rebuilt several times, the current bridge is a five-span Warren Truss constructed in 1928 on top of the original masonry from the first structure. Despite its official name, tolls are no longer collected on the bridge and it now represents the southernmost free crossing of the Delaware River. 

In 1935, the words "TRENTON MAKES THE WORLD TAKES" were installed in large letters on the south-facing side of the bridge. Coined by S. Roy Heath in 1910 as the slogan for the city of Trenton, the phrase represented the pride felt by the citizens of Trenton, a major manufacturing center for china, rubber, wire rope, and cigars at the time. In 2005, an upgraded sign was installed on the bridge with higher-efficiency neon lighting

Although Trenton is no longer the industrial powerhouse it once was, the message is still clearly visible, letting everyone know that old Trenton would like a little respect.

Related Tags

Bridges Industrial

Community Contributors

Added By

lex

Edited By

micp1050, dlc31723, EricGrundhauser, tylercole...

  • micp1050
  • dlc31723
  • EricGrundhauser
  • tylercole
  • spadaadjusting
  • blimpcaptain
  • Jason Michael Walker
  • Julius Spada
  • tracyshopping17

Published

November 13, 2015

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Sources
  • http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5157037
  • https://www.drjtbc.org/default.aspx?pageid=84
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trenton,_New_Jersey#Economy
Lower Trenton Bridge
Bridge St and William Trent Pl
Trenton, New Jersey
United States
40.210373, -74.769072
Get Directions

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Photo of Trenton

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New Jersey

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