Spruce Street Bridge

Perhaps the best-known “secret” in the neighborhood is the Spruce Street Suspension Bridge, engineered by Edwin Capps and built in 1912. The “wiggly bridge” as local kids call it was designed to provide pedestrian passage across a deep canyon, which isolated developing neighborhoods from the newly built trolley lines on Fourth and Fifth avenues. 79-Bridge CelebrationThis Bankers Hill treasure, located just west of First Avenue, is an inconspicuous, but truly special footbridge, the only of its type in the county. It crosses 70 feet above Kate Sessions Canyon, which honors the famous horticulturist responsible for many of the plantings found throughout the city. The unique walkway floats among treetops, stretching gracefully for 375 feet by steel suspension cables anchored to massive concrete piers hidden beneath the soil at both ends. The lightness of the bridge allows it to sway and dance in response to wind and walkers. Initially to some it may be a little scary, but well worth the experience. From center span the downtown skyline can be seen.