Out in McKean County, Pennsylvania, there’s a bridge, or rather, what’s left of one, one that tells a story of ambition, collapse, and reinvention. The Kinzua Bridge, once the tallest railroad bridge on the planet, stood 301 feet high and stretched 2,053 feet across the Kinzua Creek Valley. When it opened in 1882, people called it the “Eighth Wonder of the World.” And honestly, they had a point.
It was built fast, just 94 days, using iron and a whole lot of nerve. By 1900, it had to be rebuilt with steel to handle the weight of heavier trains. For decades, it carried coal, timber, oil, and even passengers on scenic excursions.Then, in 2003, an F1 tornado ripped through the valley and brought most of the bridge down in less than half a minute. What remained could’ve been scrapped, but it wasn’t.
Instead, the state preserved what was left and turned it into something new. The Kinzua Skywalk, opened in 2011, lets visitors walk out on the last intact section of the bridge, ending at a glass-floored observation deck 225 feet above the forest floor. It’s now the centerpiece of Kinzua Bridge State Park, which draws in over 200,000 people a year.
So what happened in between? Well, this blog breaks down the fullstory, how the bridge was built, why it mattered, what brought it down, and how it’s still standing in a whole new way.
Vision and Early Construction (1881–1882)
The Kinzua Bridge was built to solve a specific problem. General Thomas Kane, who led the New York, Lake Erie, and Western Coal and Railroad Company, needed a faster way to move coal, oil, and timber from McKean County, Pennsylvania, to markets in New York. Rather than building an extra eight miles of track over rough terrain, Kane decided to build a bridge straight across the Kinzua Creek Valley.
Construction began in 1881. The Phoenix Bridge Company designed and built the structure using wrought iron. The towers were made from Phoenix Columns, a patented design that used hollow, riveted iron tubes. These columns were both lighter and stronger than solid cast iron, which made them well-suited for the job.
The crew finished the entire bridge in only 94 days. About 40 workers were involved. They didn’t use scaffolding; they built the towers first and then crossed on iron rods to install the trusses between each section. According to reports, there were no serious injuries during construction.
By 1882, the Kinzua Viaduct was complete. It stood 301 feet tall and stretched 2,053 feet across the valley. At the time, it was the highest and longest railroad bridge in the world. The total weight of the iron structure was about 3.1 million pounds. It was designed to carry freight trains across the valley quickly and efficiently, and it did exactly that.
Rebuilding for Heavier Trains (1900)
By the late 1890s, trains were getting much heavier than they were in 1882 when the Kinzua Bridge was first built. The original iron structure couldn’t handle the new weight, and it resulted in the entire bridge having to be taken down and rebuilt using stronger material.
Work began on May 24, 1900. The job was once again given to the Phoenix Bridge Company. The new bridge kept the same size as the original—301 feet tall and 2,053 feet long—but it was made of steel instead of iron. This change more than doubled the total weight of the bridge, from 3.1 million pounds to 6.7 million pounds.
About 100 to 150 men worked ten-hour shifts to finish the rebuild. It took them 105 days to complete the project. Several changes were made to improve the structure. Engineers added sliding expansion plates and movable spans. These helped reduce the pressure when trains stopped or slowed down. They also placed the fixed ends of the towers on the north side of the valley,because that’s where the wind usually came from.
The American Society of Civil Engineers later pointed out two unusual design features. First, the tops of each tower were built closer together than usual, creating a triangle shape instead of the more common rectangle. Second, the bridge had no diagonal cross-braces between towers, which was different from most other viaducts. At the time, some engineers supported these changes, while others did not.
The new steel bridge opened on September 25, 1900. It was built to handle the heavier trains of the new century and remained in use for many more years.
Decline and State Park Formation (1959–1970)
In 1959, trains stopped running across the Kinzua Bridge. Freight traffic was no longer active, and the bridge was left unused. Four years later, in 1963, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania bought the bridge and the surrounding land.
This purchase set the stage for a new purpose. Instead of being removed, the bridge became the main feature of a new public area. In 1970, Kinzua Bridge State Park officially opened. Visitors could walk across the old bridge and see the Kinzua Creek Valley from above.
Then, in 1977, the bridge was given national recognition. The American Society of Civil Engineers named it a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.
Return of Passenger Trains (1987–2002)
In 1987, the Kinzua Bridge was brought back into use, this time for tourism. The Knox & Kane Railroad started running passenger trains across the bridge, giving people a chance to see the structure up close. The train route ran from Marienville to the bridge, passing through the Allegheny National Forest.
These trips became popular. Thousands of people rode the train every year. The experience was often called “Tracks in the Sky” because the bridge stood 301 feet above the Kinzua Creek Valley. Some passengers chose to get off the train before the crossing, especially those afraid of heights.In a 1998 New York Times article, the crossing was described as feeling “more like ballooning than railroading,” since the bridge had no high guardrails and the height created a floating sensation.
The excursions continued for 15 years, from 1987 to 2002. But by the end of that period, concerns about the bridge’s condition were growing. Structural issues would soon bring the rides to a stop.
Structural Concerns and Closure (2002–2003)
In early 2002, engineers from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) inspected the Kinzua Bridge. During the inspection, they found serious problems. Parts of the steel were rusted through, and some sections showed signs of stress and fatigue.
So, the bridge was closed to trains in June 2002. Then, in August, it was closed to all visitors, including people on foot. The structure was no longer considered safe.
Engineers were especially worried about wind. They explained that strong winds could push the bridge sideways, shifting its center of gravity. That shift could put too much weight on one side and possibly cause the whole bridge to fall. The damage had reached a point where even the wind was a serious threat.
The 2003 Tornado Collapse
On July 21, 2003, at 3:15 p.m., an F1 tornado hit the Kinzua Bridge. The storm brought wind speeds of over 90 miles per hour. In less than 30 seconds, 11 out of the bridge’s 20 towers collapsed into the Kinzua Creek Valley.
The collapse started at the base. The original anchor bolts from 1882, which had never been replaced, were badly rusted. When the tornado hit, the wind pushed the towers side to side. That pressure caused the anchor bolts to snap. Once the bolts failed, the towers began falling one after another.
Engineers later explained that the destruction happened in three stages. First, the wind lifted a section of the bridge off its base. And, as that part fell, the impact damaged more of the structure. Finally, as the tornado moved north, the wind coming in from the south pulled down more towers.
Floyd Quillin, the superintendent from W.M. Brode Company, was at the site that day. He had sent his crew away just before the storm. “It looked alright at first,” he said. “But when we got closer, we saw the whole middle of the bridge was gone.”
Gene Comoss, a former official with DCNR, said the bridge collapse felt personal. “It was sort of like losing a member of the family,” he said.
The storm showed how much damage time and weather had already done. Even though repairs had started, they weren’t finished. The tornado hit at the worst possible moment—and the bridge didn’t survive.
Reinvention as the Kinzua Skywalk (2003–2011)
After the tornado in 2003, the state looked at options for what to do next. Rebuilding the full bridge would have cost about $45 million, which was too expensive. Thus, they had the idea to keep the parts that were still standing and turn them into something new.
The plan was to build a pedestrian skywalk using the six towers that had not fallen. This would give visitors a chance to walk out over the valley and see the damage up close, aiming to show both the size of the original bridge and the power of the tornado that brought it down.
In total, $8.9 million was approved to build the skywalk and a new visitor center. The project included reinforcing the remaining towers, building a 624-foot walkway, and adding a glass observation deck at the end. The deck stands 225 feet above the valley and includes a section with a glass floor, where people can look directly down at the collapsed towers below.
The Kinzua Skywalk opened on September 15, 2011. It was designed to help people understand the full story of the bridge—how it was built, how it fell, and how it was turned into something that still brings people to the valley today.
The Visitor Experience Today
Kinzua Bridge State Park is now a place where people can see what remains of one of the tallest railroad bridges ever built and learn about how it was changed by time and nature. Today, visitors can walk where trains once crossed and see the damage left behind by the 2003 tornado. At the same time, they can hike, picnic, and enjoy the landscape of McKean County.
Visitor Center with History and Exhibits
First, most people stop at the Visitor Center. This building includes exhibits that explain the full story of the bridge, from its original construction in 1882 to its collapse in 2003. There are also displays about the wildlife in the area and how the tornado affected the valley.
Along with the exhibits, the center includes:
- A staffed park office
- Public restrooms
- The PA Wilds Conservation Shop, which sells items made by local artists and businesses
The Skywalk and Observation Deck
The Kinzua Skywalk is the park’s main feature. It follows the path of the old bridge for 624 feet and ends at an observation deck that stands 225 feet above the valley. The deck was built on six of the original bridge towers that were not damaged by the tornado.
One section of the deck has a glass floor, which lets visitors look straight down at the twisted steel remains of the eleven towers that collapsed in 2003. These parts of the bridge were left where they fell so people could see exactly what the tornado did. The walkway is checked regularly to make sure it is safe for everyone.
Trails and Outdoor Activities
Besides the skywalk, the park offers several outdoor activities. One of the most popular is the Mt. Jewett to Kinzua Bridge Trail, a 7.8-mile path built on a former railroad line. In 2023, this trail was named Pennsylvania’s Trail of the Year. It’s used for walking, biking, and horseback riding.
Visitors can also:
- Have a picnic in the shaded areas near the Visitor Center
- Take photos, especially during early October, when the valley is full of fall colors
- Let children play at the large playground, added in 2021 and dedicated to Hannah Catherine Wolfe
- Hunt in the park’s 100-acre hunting zone, following rules set by the Pennsylvania Game Commission (groundhog hunting is not allowed)
Plan Your Visit to Kinzua Bridge State Park
If you’re looking for a place that’s a little different from the usual trails and overlooks, Kinzua Bridge State Park might be exactly what you need. Many visitors say the view is “beautiful” and the Skywalk is “a one-of-a-kind experience.” People often call it “worth the trip” and “something you have to see in person.”
You can walk out on the Skywalk, stand 225 feet above the valley, and look down through the glass floor at the fallen towers. The Visitor Center has clear and simple displays about the bridge’s past and the tornado that brought it down. There are also easy trails, picnic spots, and places to take great photos, especially during fall.
One visitor wrote, “I was nervous about the height, but the view was amazing.”
So if you haven’t been yet, this is your sign. Take a walk through history, see the force of nature up close, and enjoy one of Pennsylvania’s most unique state parks.
