Five Things You May Not Know About The George Washington Bridge

Manhattan may be the heart of the city at the center of the world, but for a majority of the population of northern New Jersey and beyond, you can’t get there unless you cross the George Washington Bridge.

Named in honor of George Washington, this suspension bridge connects Fort Washington, N.Y. and Fort Lee, N.J., two fortified positions used by General Washington to hold off the British during the American Revolutionary War. This particular part of the Hudson River is one of the narrowest, making for easier construction.

Here are five things about the George Washington Bridge you may have never considered while jockeying for position at the toll lanes:

Number One

With over 200,000 cars crossing daily, the George Washington Bridge is the most travelled bridge in the world, according to The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey.

Number Two

Construction of the bridge began in 1927 and was dedicated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on October 24, 1931. The original design called for the steel towers to be encased in granite, and a restaurant at the top of the New Jersey tower, but the Great Depression put an end to such expensive design plans.

Number Three

The George Washington Bridge is the protagonist in the classic children’s storybook, The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge, by Hildegarde Swift and Lynd Ward.

Number Four

To increase capacity, the lower level was completed in 1962 and is also known as the “Martha Washington” level.

Number Five

The American flag that flies from the upper arch of the New Jersey tower on holidays is the largest free-flying American flag. It weighs 450 pounds and is 90 feet by 60 feet.