5. The Henry Hudson Bridge Was Painted to Blend in With Natural Surroundings
Image via Wikimedia Commons: MTA
Over the course of its lifespan, the Henry Hudson Bridge has been painted and repainted several times. According to The Bridges of New York (New York City) by Sharon Reier, Steinman called for bridge engineers to create “beauty and harmony of composition through beauty of line, form and proportion, through color and illumination.” He was especially fond of painting his bridges in hues that blended in with the natural landscapes surrounding them.
As such, the Henry Hudson Bridge was originally painted a deep, forest green to blend in with the foliage of Riverside and Inwood Parks. It was later covered in aluminum gray, and then medium blue to blend in with the Harlem River before being repainted gray.