{"id":65,"featured":0,"modified":"2026-03-04 21:31:58","latitude":41.4958737301000013530938304029405117034912109375,"longitude":-81.70335888860000750355538912117481231689453125,"title":"Superior Viaduct","subtitle":"Where the East Side and West Side Met","fullsize":"https://clevelandhistorical.org/files/fullsize/scbook4_7799d9f3bf.jpg","address":"Ohio City, Cleveland, OH","zoom":16,"creator":["Michael Rotman"],"description":"Clevelanders met the opening of the Superior Viaduct in December 1878 with great fanfare, celebrating the city's first high-level bridge. The bridge in many ways symbolized Cleveland's continuing economic growth and  development into a major American city. Prior to the Viaduct's opening, low-level bridges were the only way for vehicles to cross the Cuyahoga River. To approach these  bridges, commuters had to navigate steep valley walls. Moreover, bridge traffic would come to a halt with the passing of each and every boat. While the Superior Viaduct's central span still had to swing open several times a day to let taller ships through, it was a vast improvement over the older bridges.<br /><br />The building of the Superior Viaduct began in March 1875, three years after city residents voted to fund its construction. Costs eventually came to a little over two million dollars. Despite all its grandeur, the viaduct became outdated with the opening of the <a href=\"https://clevelandhistorical.org/items/show/53\">Detroit-Superior Bridge</a> in 1917. That bridge was built high enough to let even the larger boats pass underneath without disturbing traffic.  <br /><br />The viaduct was closed to cross-river traffic once and for all when its center span was removed in 1923. Over time, the once-celebrated structure was dismantled. Today, a number of the stone arches and other components of the viaduct's western approach are all that remain.  ","sponsor":null,"accessinfo":"The viaduct may be reached from W 25th St one block north of Detroit Ave.","lede":null,"website":null,"related_resources":["\"Superior Viaduct.\" <em>Encyclopedia of Cleveland History</em>. <a href=\"https://case.edu/ech/articles/s/superior-viaduct\">case.edu/ech/articles/s/superior-viaduct</a>"],"factoids":[],"files":{"https://clevelandhistorical.org/files/fullsize/scbook4_7799d9f3bf.jpg":{"id":670,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Superior Viaduct, 1878","description":"A view of the viaduct shortly after it opened in 1878.<br />\r\n<br />\r\n | Cleveland State University, Michael Schwartz Library, Special Collections","thumbnail":"https://clevelandhistorical.org/files/square_thumbnails/scbook4_7799d9f3bf.jpg"},"https://clevelandhistorical.org/files/fullsize/press-viaductpivot12_bd92ef801a.jpg":{"id":671,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Open Span, 1912","description":"In this photograph from 1912, the center span of the Superior Viaduct has opened to a let a ship pass underneath.<br />\r\n<br />\r\n | Cleveland State University, Michael Schwartz Library, Special Collections","thumbnail":"https://clevelandhistorical.org/files/square_thumbnails/press-viaductpivot12_bd92ef801a.jpg"},"https://clevelandhistorical.org/files/fullsize/press-viaduct1912_89ae9330e6.jpg":{"id":672,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Superior Viaduct, 1912","description":"Cleveland State University, Michael Schwartz Library, Special Collections","thumbnail":"https://clevelandhistorical.org/files/square_thumbnails/press-viaduct1912_89ae9330e6.jpg"},"https://clevelandhistorical.org/files/fullsize/92b95e33127ea7ac6b6e9dd48564d5ea.jpg":{"id":11015,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Viaduct Traffic, ca. 1910s","description":"Streetcars, pedestrians, and private automobiles cross the Superior Viaduct, circa 1910s. | Cleveland State University, Michael Schwartz Library, Special Collections","thumbnail":"https://clevelandhistorical.org/files/square_thumbnails/92b95e33127ea7ac6b6e9dd48564d5ea.jpg"},"https://clevelandhistorical.org/files/fullsize/superioravenueviaduct-loc-ca1900s_615e16b4f8.jpg":{"id":1473,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Center Span, Ca. 1900","description":"The swinging, center span of the Superior Avenue Viaduct, circa 1900.<br />\r\n<br />\r\n | Library of Congress, Photograph Collection","thumbnail":"https://clevelandhistorical.org/files/square_thumbnails/superioravenueviaduct-loc-ca1900s_615e16b4f8.jpg"},"https://clevelandhistorical.org/files/original/12df19ae7f37c6fa6e7d81241cd39457.mp4":{"id":8430,"mime-type":"video/mp4","title":"&quot;Our Splendid Viaduct&quot;","description":"Viaduct Reflections, by Mark T. Wallace, 1882. | CSU Center for Public History + Digital Humanities","thumbnail":"https://clevelandhistorical.org/files/square_thumbnails/12df19ae7f37c6fa6e7d81241cd39457.jpg"},"https://clevelandhistorical.org/files/fullsize/viaduct38_295993eef4.jpg":{"id":673,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Arch, 1938","description":"An arch is soon to be torn down in this 1938 photograph. Several of the viaduct&#039;s arches still stand on the west side of the river.<br />\r\n<br />\r\n | Cleveland State University, Michael Schwartz Library, Special Collections","thumbnail":"https://clevelandhistorical.org/files/square_thumbnails/viaduct38_295993eef4.jpg"},"https://clevelandhistorical.org/files/fullsize/press-viaduct71_1f490b7b6f.jpg":{"id":674,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Viaduct, 1971","description":"A largely intact part of the Superior Viaduct - with the streetcar tracks still in place - in 1971.<br />\r\n<br />\r\n | Cleveland State University, Michael Schwartz Library, Special Collections","thumbnail":"https://clevelandhistorical.org/files/square_thumbnails/press-viaduct71_1f490b7b6f.jpg"}}}