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I have found the designer of Alexandria's Wilson Bridge! I have painted this bridge several times over the years. Recently we had our first market of 2026 indoors. At my table I met Fred Gottemoeller, whose wife casually mentioned that he had designed the bridge that was on my painting. Hark! As I was painting it last Summer, I mused to myself that it sure would be nice to meet the designer of the fantastic Woodrow Wilson Bridge. Fred points out that any bridge is designed by a full team, of which he was a part.
Fred writes about the Wilson Bridge design: "The Wilson Bridge is very wide, almost as wide as a football field is long. A problem is that the extreme width of the supporting piers can narrow diagonal views through the bridge. Unless you are on a boat, the diagonal view is what most people see. So, the piers are wide at their tops, where they have to support the girders, but narrow as they reach water level, where most people are viewing it from. The girders are supported at 22 locations across the river, keeping them relatively thin and economical, but the piers reach the water only 11 times. The arms of the V’s are curved to help the bridge resemble the historic Washington arch bridges, like the Memorial Bridge and the Key Bridge, that are the traditional bridge type in Washington. All of that is why the bridge does not look like a wall from the Alexandria waterfront. Instead you can see a lot of Prince George’s County right through it." You can check out Fred's website of gorgeous bridges here: www.bridges.art
In 2008 I was asked to decorate an ornament for the White House Christmas tree to represent our Virginia district. I chose the Wilson Bridge and an airplane landing at National Airport as my topic. Notice that the lettering of 'Virginia' on the ornament matches the bridge span shapes. The bridge spans also decorate the top of the ornament. I painted the ornament in acrylic paint on the plastic ball which was sent to me by the White House.
For the 2013 Alexandria Film Festival, I designed the branding and program cover. My computer illustration shows the bridge and the Masonic Temple.
Ellen Hamilton
My most recent bridge painting can be seen here: Bridge Painting
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