Ever wonder why it's called a "bridge"?

[Mark F. Jenkins]

(Lot 3000-I-12: Captain George Dewey onboard USS Pensacola, 1885-1888. )

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

Yes, I did! Clears that up, thank you, Mark!

 

[rebelatsea]

View attachment 97044
(Lot 3000-I-12: Captain George Dewey onboard USS Pensacola, 1885-1888. )

Originally it was a light walkway suspended between the high bulwarks to allow officers better vision than they got from the quarterdeck one steamships became ocean going. The funnel(s) added a much bigger obstacle to vision than masts and rigging formerly did. Mark's photo is a classic example.

 

[Talos]

Originally it was a light walkway suspended between the high bulwarks to allow officers better vision than they got from the quarterdeck one steamships became ocean going. The funnel(s) added a much bigger obstacle to vision than masts and rigging formerly did. Mark's photo is a classic example.

Even before that it was a light bridge between the wheelboxes in paddle steamers. The big reason for the switch was that in a sailing vessel the captain was on the quarterdeck so he would have an unobstructed view of the sails at any given moment. This is obviously less important when you're spending more time under steam power.

 

[MRB1863]

Certainly illustrates the term quite clearly!

 

[Patrick H]

Neat picture and, yes, it explains the term very well.

 

[Northern Light]

I hadn't actually, but now I know why. Thanks!

 

[Carronade]

That photo was just in the US Naval Institute Proceedings, captioned as being from a European cruise by Pensacola in 1888. At that time we were just starting to commission our first steel ships; not exactly prestigious for the US Navy to be represented to the great powers by a wooden sailing steamer from the 1850s.