Essay On Capilano Suspension Bridge

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Capilano Suspension Bridge
The Capilano Suspension Bridge was built in 1889 across the Capilano River by a Scottish engineer named George Grant Mackay in the city of Vancouver. The bridge was initially constructed from hemp ropes and cedar planks, which were later replaced with more durable steel cables in 1903. Over time, the bridge has exchanged ownership several times and has undergone a series of renovations. This is a paper on the Capilano Bridge. Special focus is given to its history, construction, and impact in its locality.
History of the Capilano Suspended Bridge
George Grant Mackay arrived in Vancouver in 1887 and bought 6000 acres from Britain in the Capilano area at the rate of $1 per acre. His intentions for the land, as stated …show more content…

In 1962, Hurricane Frieda blew across the property wreaking havoc, but the bridge stood unharmed. Recently in the winter of 2006, a 93,000pound, 9.4 meters, 300 year old Douglas fir tree fell on the western part of the bridge. The cables did not snap under the loading, but the bridge was closed for three months for renovations. During this time, the tree was removed from the bridge and testing was done. Also the supporting concrete on either side of the bridge was upgraded to 114tons (Capilano Suspension Bridge Park par. …show more content…

Source: Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
Civilization and culture associated with the Capilano Suspended Bridge
The name Capilano was first used by the Squamish Nation in reference to the First Nation, which meaning “beautiful river” and was spelled as Kia’palano. Later on, the name morphed to Capilano, a name synonymous with the bridge and park.
When he bought the property in 1988, George Grant did not have any idea that it would become the landmark structure that it is today. In fact, he did not regard the bridge as an income-generating venture or as a tourist destination. During the time of construction in the late 1800s, settlement in North Vancouver was not so much pronounced and the people living in that region practiced logging and lumber harvesting as the main economic activities. The initial settlers cleared the forest to build homes and build businesses. The forests were a source of wealth and prosperity and the people believed that the bigger the portion of the forest that one owned, the more wealthy they were. This could have been the driving force that made George acquire 6,000 acres for himself and build the

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