Some Mainers Haven’t Heard Of The Androscoggin Bridge, A Historic Wooden Swinging Bridge In Vacationland

If you've ever driven on US-1 in Topsham, there's a good chance you've seen the curious bridge over the Androscoggin River. It might seem randomly placed, but it actually served an important purpose back in 1892 when it was built. In fact, back then many folks in the area could credit the bridge with their ability to make money. Today, it's a fun trip over a piece of history.

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Built in 1892 to allow workers at the Cabot Mill to get to work, the Androscoggin Swinging Bridge was a vital part of life back in the 1800s and early 1900s.

Reaching across the Androscoggin River linking the towns of Topsham and Brunswick, the bridge spans a total of 330-feet.

And, while it’s needed some repairs over the years the cables you see today are the same ones used when it was first built!

And its history also reaches as far away as New York.

It was built by the same person responsible for the Brooklyn Bridge, John A Roebling’s Sons Company.

As an important part of the history of the state, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.

But what about all that swinging business? Simple! Suspension bridges are often also called "swinging" bridges because their construction allows for give when it’s in use or during a windy day.

You might not feel it move all the time, but if you’re from the area you likely remember walking to the middle, jumping around to make it shake and then running to the other side!

Or, you can always plant yourself on it during a windy day for the same feeling.

This historic bridge is worth a visit, no matter how you make it shake!

You can visit the Androscoggin Swinging Bridge any time of year, but when the river is rushing it's a bit more thrilling to cross! To explore more, check out these 10 covered bridges in Maine that might just remind you of a simpler time.