Bow Bridge
Location: Mid-Park at 74th Street, west of Bethesda Terrace
Bow Bridge is one of the most iconic and photographed features of Central Park. Built in 1862, this Victorian-era bridge spans 60 feet across the Central Park Lake and connects Cherry Hill and the Ramble.
Known as a romantic meeting point both in real life and reel life, Bow Bridge offers a picturesque location to stop and enjoy a moment, overlooking the row boats as they glide gently along the Lake. It's a popular place for a wedding proposal, a first-date kiss, or a stunning shot of the Fifth Avenue skyline. It has provided a magnificent setting for films such as Manhattan, The Way We Were, and Keeping the Faith.
Bow Bridge gets its name from its graceful arc shape which resembles that of an archer's bow. It is the oldest cast-iron bridge in Central Park (also one of the only), and it is the second-oldest cast-iron bridge in the entire United States. It was designed by Calvert Vaux and Jacob Wrey Mould with Classical Greek refinement, incorporating elements of Gothic, Neo-Classical, and Renaissance design. The walkway was constructed from a dense and resilient wood called ipe (a.k.a Brazilian Walnut), which turns a deep red color when wet. Displayed along the top outer edges are eight cast-iron replicas of planting urns which originally adorned the bridge in the early 1900s. Through historical restoration using images and what was believed to be one original urn, the 3.5-foot-high cast iron urns were reproduced and reinstalled at their original locations.