PROCEEDINGS OF AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HISTORIC BRIDGES

Although the Capitol Building in Charleston is widely considered one of the most beautiful structures in West Virginia, less attention is paid to what some consider the most remarkable piece of architecture the state possesses. It's the Wheeling Suspension Bridge, and this collection of essays by civil engineering professors, industrial archaeologists, historians and others is itself a significant bridge from the past to the future. It is not enough to preserve the past, we need also to understand it. These essays help us understand the grand achievement of the Wheeling Suspension Bridge, which has been restored to its mid-nineteenth century appearance in time for its birthday celebration in October 1999. The book features: - Pictures of the Wheeling Suspension Bridge and other significant American bridges - Detailed essays by professionals that reflect their areas of expertise: construction, law, and history of suspension bridges - Original drawings/blueprints dating back to 1847