Arch rival…
Under the Double Arch
A few weeks ago I posted a few images shot while in St. Louis in and around its famous Arch. I guess I must be drawn to arches, because a week ago my family and I took off for a Sunday drive to visit another famous arch structure–this one only about 30 minutes from my home here in Williamson County, TN. I have driven under this particular arched bridge many times, but I was always on my way somewhere, and never took the extra time to circle around and really “look.” Last Sunday was that day, and boy was I treated to a view. This is the Natchez Trace Parkway Bridge, known locally as the Double Arch Bridge, a supremely beautiful structure that spans 582 feet and stands 145 tall. It won the Presidential Award for Design Excellence in 1995, and in one sweeping glance, it is easy to see why. This first image doesn’t do it justice but is a rather unique view from the bridge’s north underside. Interesting how the compression belies the true size of this structure.
From this view, the shape of the structure begins to appear, taken from just to the side and on the bridge’s north end.
Natchez Trace Parkway Bridge
Then I moved far right, to try to capture as much of the bridge as possible. The two gleaming, otherworldly arches, which look as if they have almost risen out of the earth below, are finally visible.
Finally, I mustered the courage to venture out onto the bridge, and was rewarded with this fantastic view of rural beauty. (The center speck in the sky is the hawk featured a couple of posts ago.) All in all, the afternoon was photographically, all I could have hoped for, and all just a few moments from home. Hope you enjoy…
1107photography 
Really nice shots, Deb!
Gorgeous pix…I love your description of the arches, and how it was “…as if they have almost risen out of the earth below.”
Captivating!
🙂
Wow! Your photos are beautiful!! The third one is my favourite…just stunning. 🙂
Gorgeous shots! Thanks for sharing and congrats on being freshly pressed!
The arch is lovely, and yes, the rural scenery is too. Thank you for sharing those.
Beautiful and unique structure! Especially striking against the Fall backdrop!
http://arabianmusings.wordpress.com/
Gorgeous photos.
Thanks to everyone who commented! It is great to share a little piece of beauty with others. 🙂
Beautiful shots! Thanks for sharing, & congrats on being Freshly Pressed!
Thanks for sharing the bridge photos. Nice artistry on that construction. Connie
http://7thandvine.wordpress.com/
I LOVE modern architecture and the combo of this bridge and the fall colors is perfection. Excellent photos!!
I live near there! That is one tall bridge 🙂 good pics
Cool! Yes, i have driven under it many times, and never had “time” to stop. Just shows what can happen if you take the time to really soak it in… then shoot!
Great photos. The firt picture reminds me of a painting I did a few years ago from a park under a highway bridge looking up at the bridge supports.
Lovely photos. I rather like the first one because of the contrasts between the solidity of the lovely bridge shape and the feathery saplings around and about. Many thanks for sharing these images. What arch is next?
Like the pictures, especially the first. It looks kinda boring, but it’s actually pretty thinking 🙂
Think I wanna try take a picture like that one! 😀
Do you know why the bridge is going op and down? – it looks pretty weird!
Please all take a look at my blog… I’m new here and want your opinion on what I can make better 🙂
//MJ
Oh, forgot the link to my blog 😉
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I’ll definetely check it out… i am overwhelmed today with all the nice comments from being Freshly Pressed. Thanks so much for checking out the blog and the comments!
These photos are wonderful! Such great colours and shapes, plus I liked the witty title (;
That is a really cool looking bridge. I always have loved bridges. They are so interesting on so many levels. And as we can see here they can be very beautiful. Thank you for posting this. Cheers.
Did it replace a previous bridge? It would be fun to see how this compares to what was there before. This one is really graceful.
That is a great question! I know it was fairly recently constructed, but I am not sure about the rest of the Natchez Trace Parkway… one of the most beautiful highways around.
Karl, no, there was not a bridge there before. But, from reading a few of your book excerpts I’d say you like history and travel. I would bet that you’d enjoy reading the history of the Natchez Trace. I will keep you in suspense and let you read about it. : ) Enjoy!
And, 1107, the photos are beautiful, the top one is my favorite as I’ve never seen the bridge from that view. Very nice creative touch. I hope you got to enjoy a meal at Loveless’s near the bridge, people come from miles around to eat there.
Smiling,
Leigh
Leigh – Thanks for filling me in on the bridge. Yes, I do like history and travel. I know a tiny amount about the Natchez Trace – it was once the main overland route from the Midwest to DC, and either Lewis or Clark allegedly committed suicide at an inn somewhere along it. And one of the USA’s most dangerous fault lines sits somewhere nearby and is likely to someday try bring that pretty bridge tumbling down. Enjoy your time to paint and be artistic.
I find it interesting how a piece of architecture can look like it belongs with the scene around it. Wonderful pictures! Thanks for sharing.
That’s incredibly beautiful — thanks!
So splendid. Peaceful. countryish. I loved it. Thanks for sharing with this New Yorker
Val
http://valentinedefrancis.blogspot.com
Stunning!
Amazing! There are just so many reasons for me to travel to that area of the world. I’ll just add this bridge to my list.
Beautiful photos! I love the first one! Great composition and the Fall colors are gorgeous. Thanks for sharing.
This is beautiful! I want to print out the 3rd and 4th picture and stick them up in my cubicle 🙂
Amazing photos. 😀
bridges rock. the architecture and lines…fantastic. and your shots are lovely…the colors of the fall leaves. very seasonal. thanks for sharing!
Simply amazing.
beautiful!
Wonderful pictures!
Spectacular! Congrats.
Excellent and thanks for sharing. Thanks for capturing the unique design.
Beautiful shots, fascinating
Well done on getting Freshly Pressed!
Hope to see you on my blog soon!
http://littleexplorer.wordpress.com/
Beautiful shots, fascinating colours…
Well done on getting Freshly Pressed!
Hope to see you on my blog soon!
http://littleexplorer.wordpress.com/
Love the title and photos!
Awwwesome shots! The coloring of the season really made them pop
Great shots!
I particularly like the first 2…great job and congratulations on being freshly pressed.
Very nice … You’ve inspired me to take a day trip to a couple of aqueducts on the C&O Canal.
Love the symmetry and the movement!
Gorgeous! You are quite talented.
Excellent!
These are great constructions but with your photographical compositions they seems so beautiful and so artistic. Congratulation on being Freshly Pressed, that’s why I’ve met with your beautiful blog. Thank you, with my love, nia
What an interesting looking structure. I wouldn’t have discovered it without your photos. Thanks!
Beautiful shots. I am often stuck indoors in the same city, at work or at home, so don’t get to travel around much and see new things, but I think it’s important to get that fix of such a humbling kind of view. Wonderful perspective.
It is kind of spooky when you look at it, almost as if it was engineered to fall down?
I thought two things, #1 good photo’s and #2 Earthquake!
Yeah, I know, but what can I say?
DS
I love the fall colors added to it. Great job!
Really great photos. I love bridges too. I have pics from the Millau Viaduct in France on my travel photo site.
I am thrilled to finally see that someone else has a fascination with arches and bridges. I was beginning to think I was alone in the world. Lol
Beautiful photos!
Gorges! 😉
Wow, great photos. That bridge so elegantly takes its place there.
I believe this is my most favorite bridge in the entire country!!! This time of year it is hard to know if the view of the countryside from above, or the dynamic arches from below is the most beautiful. I don’t know that I’ve ever had a bridge – a man made structure – take my breath away the way this one can. Thanks for these fabulous photographs!
Outstanding as usual!
Very inspiring! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
I love the form and use of symmetry in the first shot. Nice study of the bridge.
how fantastic!!
nothing but love.
Absolutely stunning photos!!
ur pictures look gorgeous, i can see the beauty of nature and hope of life.
very captivating…..
I sure did enjoy! Thanks for posting! Amazing views and beautiful scenery! http://Www.numisone.com/jcb
ww! nice and biautiful pictures! ok
ww! nice and beautiful pictures! ok
Great shots. I love the colours of the autumn. And bridges seem to me like the perfect blend of nature and human activity (imagine those old Roman stone bridges – too bad so many of the modern ones seem like someone just dropped them in the middle of the landscape without any thought of beauty…)
Very beautiful. You really captured the grace and symmetry of the bridge, and the end of autumn colors make it look all the more ghostly and elegant. I love the first shot…it’s so mysterious. (And the Natchez Trace is so evocative to begin with…!) Congratulations on the Fresh Press!
Great shots!!! 🙂
Great shot!
Really nice, thanks to allow us to see this, is beautifull.
Gorgeous pictures!!
Excellent!
When I saw the pictures all I could breathe out was “WOW!” I love the last photograph. It makes me feel as if I’m riding in a helicopter looking down on the scene.:) Stunning, beautiful pictures!
Beautiful images! Thanks for sharing.
A beautiful blend of architecture and nature!
Nice title to the post. 🙂 Really cool set, that place looks great!
Indeed … beautiful arches .. thanks !!
Ed
gorgeous!
Nice shots indeed!
It is indeed, a beautiful piece of architecture.Thanks a million for showcasing it here.:-)
Gorgeous photos! Started following today… =)
Gorgeous photos.
nice post and pictures.
nice blog having so many stuff to read.
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