Hell Gate Bridge

Despite the hellish name, at least this bridge doesn't lead to damnation. The name Hell Gate comes from Dutch (Helle Gadt) as a reference to the Hellespont / Dardanelles, a difficult strait to navigate and cross. The English form stuck as the strait was difficult to navigate, with the whirlpools in the strait making navigation a hellish experience. The strait was made less hellish to navigate in the late 1800s via both dredging and the largest manmade explosions until World War I. This got rid of the whirlpools. The name still stuck for historical purposes.

Now, onto the bridge. The Hell Gate Bridge was built from 1912 to 1916 and serves to connect New York City to New England. The design is a spectacular arch bridge that would later be replicated by the more famous Sydney Harbor Bridge. This is the original, though. And it's one of the more underrated bridges in New York City.

Approaching the Hell Gate Bridge, with its large stone towers and graceful arch.

Getting on the bridge.

And now something less hellish and quite the opposite. The amazing views of Manhattan from the Hell Gate Bridge.

The Triborough Bridge can also be seen from the Hell Gate Bridge, creating a complement for the Manhattan skyline in the background.

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