Moseley Wrought Iron Arch Bridge

The Moseley Wrought Iron Arch Bridge is a cast iron arch bridge on the Merrimack College campus in North Andover, Massachusetts that crosses a reflecting pond. The structure features triangular-shaped top chords held together with rivets, creating a distinctive industrial profile against the water.

The bridge was built in 1864 by the Moseley Iron Building Works in Boston during the early years of American iron bridge construction. It came into existence at a time when engineers were still experimenting with riveted iron designs for long spans.

The bridge sits in the middle of the Merrimack College grounds where students walk across it regularly as part of campus life. It serves as a tangible connection to industrial-age engineering that people can actually touch and study.

You can walk across the bridge freely as it sits open on the college campus during normal hours. The grounds are easy to navigate on foot, and parking is available nearby for those arriving by car.

The bridge was one of the first to use riveted triangular top chords as a structural solution for iron arches. This design approach became influential for later bridge builders who copied the method across North America.

Location: Massachusetts

GPS coordinates: 42.66910,-71.12260

Latest update: December 14, 2025 17:41