In the early 1800’s, the original bridge that stood in this spot was the Portage Wooden High Bridge. It was the tallest and longest wooden railroad bridge of its kind. The bridge allowed tourists to cross in order to view the vistas of Portage Gorge.
On May 5, 1875, the wooden railroad bridge was destroyed in a terrible fire. The bridge was a total loss. Immediately after the fire, the Erie Railroad Company took action to replace the wooden Portage Bridge with an iron and steel design. Construction began June 8, 1875 and the new bridge opened for traffic 53 days later on July 31, 1875. The bridge was 820 feet long and 240 feet high. The last of the 1875 bridge was demolished 143 years later on the morning of March 20, 2018.