This post was inspired by the post I did a couple of months ago, on the Lasalle bridge. The Jacques-Cartier Bridge has been a part of Montréal’s history since May 14, 1930. This was when it was first opened to the public. Montréal celebrated its 90th anniversary in May 2020.
Personally, the Jacques-Cartier bridge holds a dear place in my heart. It is the best viewing spot for the fireworks in the summer. With all this in mind, I hope you enjoy the photos I found!
1930 – Photograph of the bridge and the port of Montréal in the early 1930s. View to the East.1930 – View of Montréal from Mont Royal. The bridge is in the background.1931 – General view looking east, overlooking the front of the new fire alarm center.1932 – Photograph of the entrance on the south shore of Montréal.1935 – Avenue De Lorimier between Dorchester streets (René-Lévesque boulevard Est) and Notre-Dame Est, towards the south.
This photo is truly magical in my opinion. My first thought when I look at it is, it gives me New York vibes. The Jacques Cartier Bridge looks a lot like the Brooklyn Bridge in New York. The old cars getting through the snow is another great part of this photo.
1936 – Molson Brewery on Notre-Dame Street.1937 – Taken from the Lévis Tower. We can see Montréal in the background.1944 – View from Mont Royal of the Jacques-Cartier Bridge.1944 – View from Mont Royal of the Jacques-Cartier Bridge.1945 – Bonsecours Market with the bridge in the background.1946 – General view of the McTavish pumping station, and more particularly the work carried out on the floor at the bottom of the reservoir. We can see the bridge in the background, as well as other buildings in the city.1946 – Formwork for the walls of tanks 1 and 2 at the McTavish pumping station.1949 – A cabin set to be demolished on Saint-Helen’s island.1950 – Photo of a barrack on Saint-Helen’s Island with the bridge in the background.1953 – Photograph of the rue Des Commissaires with the Jacques-Cartier Bridge in the background.1960 – View of the Jacques Cartier Bridge and Saint Helen’s Island.
Here’s a fun fact for those of you reading, in June 1956, they opened up the fourth lane on the bridge. Mayor Jean Drapeau inaugurated the fourth lane.
1962 – Photo from Place Ville Marie toward the bridge.1966 – Arial view.1966 – From south to north, overlooking Saint-Helen’s Island.1966- View of Montréal from the Jacques Cartier Bridge.
Find more photos from the Montréal archives on their website.
Dalia, a photojournalist hailing from Montreal, is deeply passionate about documenting events and sharing stories about people's lives. She is on track to graduate from Concordia University with a degree in journalism and a minor in art history. Currently, Dalia holds the position of Editor-in-Chief at her school's newspaper, The Concordian. Following graduation, she aims to secure a full-time reporting job at a major news outlet.
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