[Constructed 1859-1862]
Designers: Calvert Vaux 1824-1895 &
Jacob Wrey Mould 1825-1886 • England
Architectural Highlights
Dimensions: Width - 15 feet 8 inches:
Height - 9 feet 6 inches: Span - 87 feet.
Balustrade (railing): Cast Iron - 142 feet.
Style: Classical Greek with its clean elegance
to Renaissance Gothic with its cinquefoils and
foliate designs. It is cornered with four posts
each of which originally supported vases,
which have since been removed.
Walkway: Constructed of ipe, a South American
hardwood. When new the wood is red and the
rain brings out its deep rich color.
The majestic grace and style of its unique
curved railing as it sweeps 60 feet over
the Lake is admired by Central Park visitors
from all over the world. For this reason,
Bow Bridge has been featured as a
memorable locale in many professional
film shoots for movies, TV productions
and commercials. It harmoniously connects
the forested woods of the Ramble to the
refined flowering landscape of Cherry Hill.
Bow Bridge provides a vast scenic view of
the skylines along Fifth Avenue and
Central Park West.
During the warm weather months,
Bow Bridge is the perfect spot to watch
rowboats sailing from one side of the Lake to the other.
