Tidal Reservoir, Inlet Bridge, Ohio Drive, spanning Inlet of Tidal Basin, Washington, District of Columbia, DC

Significance: The Tidal Reservoir Inlet Bridge is a successful blending of engineering designs and necessities while achieving the height of aesthetics. The tidal gates of the inlet control and regulate the water received from the river according to the tidal action and the pressure exerted or not exerted on the tidal gates. As a focal point of Potomac Park, the Tidal Reservoir Inlet Bridge contributed to the monumental design of the Capital City. Its configuration adheres to the park design concept that a bridge should blend into a park setting effectively so as not to detract from the park. The bridge was also designed to include a roadway at a time automobile traffic was only beginning to appear. The design of the bridge shows the influence of the Neo-Classical style with ornate details such as gargoyles and classical balustrades.
Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: N738
Survey number: HAER DC-9-A
Building/structure dates: 1908-1909 Initial Construction
Building/structure dates: 1926 Subsequent Work
Building/structure dates: 1970 Subsequent Work
Building/structure dates: 1986 Subsequent Work