The Colossus bridge was a record setting timber bridge

Bridge

A bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle...

 across the Schuylkill River

Schuylkill River

The Schuylkill River is a river in Pennsylvania. It is a designated Pennsylvania Scenic River.The river is about long. Its watershed of about lies entirely within the state of Pennsylvania. The source of its eastern branch is in the Appalachian Mountains at Tuscarora Springs, near Tamaqua in...

 near Philadelphia. It was built in 1812 by Louis Wernwag

Louis Wernwag

Louis Wernwag was a prominent bridge builder in the United States in the early 19th century.-Early life:...

, and was considered his finest bridge design. It had a clear span of 340 feet (103.6 m) (contemporary US Record) and was the first long span bridge to use iron rods.

The bridge was destroyed in 1838 by fire. The bridge was succeeded by Charles Ellet, Jr.

Charles Ellet, Jr.

Charles Ellet, Jr. was a civil engineer and a colonel during the American Civil War, mortally wounded at the Battle of Memphis.-Biography:Ellet was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, brother of Alfred W...

's wire suspension bridge and then the Callowhill Street truss bridge. The modern bridge at this site is the Spring Garden Street Bridge

Spring Garden Street Bridge

Spring Garden Street Bridge is a bridge in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, that crosses the Schuylkill River below Fairmount Dam. It is the fourth bridge at the Upper Ferry site.The bridge is located at .-1st bridge: The Colossus:...

.

The bridge was located near 39°57′50"N 75°11′00"W.