New River Gorge Bridge, Route 19 north of Beckley at Fayetteville, is 876 feet high, the
second highest bridge in America. An illustrated diagram at the Visitors’ Center
impresses us with the magnitude of this figure: two Statue(s) of Liberty are stacked one on
the other and both of them on top of the Washington Monument. All three fit under the
bridge with 20 feet to spare! Many informative displays, both inside and out, tell the
story of this spectacular feat of engineering. Even more important, their presence is
testimony to the incredible public interest generated by the state’s most famous bridge,
overshadowed only by the National River that builds beneath its rusty Cor-ten steel
arch.
Construction was finished in 1977 after 4 years, and then it was the longest single arch
span in the world. Now it’s only the longest in the Western Hemisphere. Why so
much enthusiasm still? It might as well be the Pittsburgh Steelers! Built by American
Bridge Division, U. S. Steel, a Pittsburgh company, the giant is a monument to what
"local" boys can do. Likewise, The Visitors’ Center is a monument to what U. S. Senator
Robert C. Byrd can do--and says so! A plaque expresses our "indebtedness" to Byrd for
his support of the state of West Virginia and New River Gorge National River, a support
which "contributed greatly to the completion of this and other park facilities." As I said
before, Byrd made sure our highways were the best to bring traffic through the state, and
his second focus has been to get folks to stop--and spend money.
I’m happy to report to the Senator that the Visitors’ Center was well-used this Friday
morning. Teens in the lobby were intently watching the video on construction of the
bridge. Several people were studying in the museum (left off lobby) with displays on the
state’s logging, railroad, coal, and other industries. Many commented, "Nice
museum!"
Everyone shot a photo of the gorge from the lobby or porch. The wildflower display was
consulted by those energetic enough to attempt trails, and even the elderly were huffing
back up 161 boardwalk steps from the lower outlook--they told me I "just have to go
down" for a closer look at the bridge. I had an excuse: "Been there"--years before. I stop
here because I love sunny mountaintops, and the gorge after rain makes me love them
more. The higher boardwalk provides photo ops (shown here with zoom) without
steps.
Sometimes the bridge sports a rainbow; other times, a fierce storm may cause you to
pause a long while. (Then you can read how engineers dealt with mine tunnels on the
hillside, where the bridge is supported.) Third Saturdays of October, a quarter-million
people attend Bridge Day, when hundreds of parachutists from around the world
jump.
Other nearby Visitors’ Centers have information on the gorge and National River. One is
at Grandview Park. All close at dark (5:00 off-season). Picnic facilities are still open.