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 »
Order a flight of infused ya dong shots.
Tep Bar
Thai-Chinese makes up Bangkok’s largest diaspora.
Nai Ek Roll Noodle
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
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
7 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.
8 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
9 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.?
10 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 Canada Ontario Ottawa Pandemic Bridge at Porter's Island

Pandemic Bridge at Porter's Island

The metal truss bridge served as the sole entry point to an "isolation island" for smallpox outbreaks throughout the 1870s and early 1940s.

Ottawa, Ontario

Added By
KieferU
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Porter’s Island bridge, built in 1894, showcasing the original lattice railing.   KieferU / Atlas Obscura User
Porter’s Island bridge, built in 1894, showcasing the original lattice railing.   KieferU / Atlas Obscura User
View looking north from the southside of the 1894 Porter’s Island bridge.   KieferU / Atlas Obscura User
The original Porter’s Island bridge, viewed from the modern bridge on Island Lodge Road.   KieferU / Atlas Obscura User
  Andrew MacLean / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Built in 1894 by Dominion Bridge Company, this defunct bridge still connects Porter’s Island to St. Patrick Street. It remains a rare example of a multi-span, pin-connected truss bridge in Ontario.

Ottawa’s first major outbreak of smallpox was reported in 1871. When the existing hospital infrastructure was deemed unsuitable for patient isolation, Porter’s Island became the new location. In 1894, an isolation hospital and bridge were constructed.

While the bridge remained intact, the hastily-built hospital fell into disrepair and was demolished in 1902. The island remained a quarantine area until the eradication of smallpox in Canada in the mid-1940s. Today, Porter’s Island is a retirement residence and long-term care facility.

The original 1894 bridge remains largely intact. The only observed alteration was pipe railings to replace the original lattice railings. A single panel of the lattice railing can be seen from the south end of the bridge.

Related Tags

Smallpox Quarantine Pandemic Islands Bridges

Know Before You Go

The original Porter's Island bridge (located at 45.436869, -75.680757) is blocked off at both ends and remains closed to all traffic (including pedestrians) due to the deteriorating wooden deck. It can still be viewed via the modern bridge on Island Lodge Road and from the sidewalk on St. Patrick Street.

Community Contributors

Added By

KieferU

Edited By

Andrew MacLean

  • Andrew MacLean

Published

February 16, 2022

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://ottawarewind.com/2020/04/19/virus-bridge-a-forgotten-1800s-iron-bridge-that-carried-plagued-citizens-to-isolation-island/
  • https://ottawa.citynews.ca/remember-this/remember-this-smallpox-and-the-porter-island-isolation-hospital-1826664
  • https://historicbridges.org/bridges/browser/?bridgebrowser=ontario/porter/
Pandemic Bridge at Porter's Island
Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 0A2
Canada
45.436869, -75.680757

Nearby Places

Remember Flanders

Ottawa, Ontario

miles away

Tin House

Ottawa, Ontario

miles away

Ottawa Jail Hostel

Ottawa, Ontario

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Ottawa

Ottawa

Ontario

Places 16
Stories 2

Nearby Places

Remember Flanders

Ottawa, Ontario

miles away

Tin House

Ottawa, Ontario

miles away

Ottawa Jail Hostel

Ottawa, Ontario

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Ottawa

Ottawa

Ontario

Places 16
Stories 2

Related Places

  • Aldabra giant tortoise on Changuu

    Tanzania

    Changuu (Prison Island)

    Over the course of its history, this tiny island has held enslaved people in transit and served as a quarantine zone. Today, it's a giant tortoise sanctuary.

  • Pontevedra, Spain

    Isla de San Simón

    This small, lush island has a long and bloody history.

  • The Ruins of Lazareto de Isla de Cabras (2015).

    Toa Baja, Puerto Rico

    Ruins of Lazaretto de Isla de Cabras

    The crumbling remnants of this 19th-century quarantine hospital hint at the touristy island's darker past.

  • Athabasca Pass.

    Stony Brook, New York

    Athabasca Pass

    When exposed at low tide, this rock bridge connects a dog-friendly beach to a strangely shaped island.

  • Shimanami Kaido cycling.

    Onomichi, Japan

    Shimanami Kaido Bikeway

    The 43-mile route crosses through six islands with gorgeous views of the Seto Inland Sea.

  • Gaztelugatxe

    San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, Spain

    Gaztelugatxe

    Hundreds of stone stairs and a winding medieval bridge connect this haunting Spanish island to the mainland.

  • Murinsel

    Graz, Austria

    Murinsel

    Resting in the middle of an Austrian river, this sci-fi "island" lets people cross in neon style.

  • Genius River Bridge

    Costa Rica

    Genius River Bridge

    One Costa Rican island is so beset by illegal shark poachers that the local rangers have built an entire bridge with their confiscated gear .

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.