The Bridge of Flowers

… is a former trolley bridge that spans the Deerfield River.

Built in 1908 for freight and people, it became obsolete in 1927 when automobile usage became more common and the street railway company went bankrupt. The bridge became covered in weeds and was soon considered an eyesore.

In 1929 Antoinette Burnham came up with the idea to transform the bridge into a beautiful garden for all to enjoy. Since the bridge could not be demolished because it carried a water main between the towns of Shelburne and Buckland, her idea was met with approval by the community.

The Bridge of Flowers was even a filming location of Robert Downey, Jr.’s film, “The Judge” which was in the process of being filmed while we were there!

We wrote an awesome post on the towns transformation for the filming of “The Judge”. If you’re a fan of the movie, don’t miss it!

The Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne Falls, MA

It is maintained by the Shelburne Falls Women’s Club, it’s free and open every day from April to the end of October.

Take the time to stroll the span of the bridge and admire the many colorful and fragrant flowering plants and shrubs along the way. When the flowers are in full bloom the walk is absolutely stunning. And if you love stunning flowers, check out our post on Ponce, Puerto Rico where we saw the most amazing bougainvillea flowers we have ever seen!

The Bridge of Flowers has proven to be a stunning location for a wedding proposal!

We saw this Bumble Bee happily exploring the flowers around the Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne Falls, MA.

Planning a visit to Shelburne Falls?

See what’s currently available and prices in the area. Book in advance!

Things to Do in Shelburne Falls, MA

You can spend the day strolling through the shops, dining, and exploring in Shelburne Falls. There are bookstores, antique shops, a pharmacy complete with old-time soda fountain, a grocery store, several restaurants and artists’ galleries that can be found throughout the village.

We found the Lamson & Goodnow Manufacturing Co. factory to be an interesting place to visit. Established in Shelburne Falls, MA in 1837, it is the oldest cutlery manufacturer in the United States. They continue to handcraft some of the finest cutlery in America today; we love the LamsonSharp knife we purchased there.

The Salmon Falls and Glacial Potholes in Shelburne Falls, MA

The Salmon Falls with it’s Glacial Potholes is one of the most interesting sights to see in Shelburne Falls, don’t miss it.

Shelburne Falls has one of the largest collections of glacial potholes in the world and is the site of the single largest recorded pothole at 39 feet in diameter. The potholes were ground out of granite by whirlpool action of water and rotating stones during the glacial age. The day we visited, the Deerfield River was flowing over the Salmon Falls with such tremendous volume that we couldn’t actually see the potholes BUT… we were able to see where the crew of Robert Downey, Jr’s latest movie “The Judge,” was set up to film! Not something you get to see everyday and a very cool experience for us. We’ll have to return another day to Shelburne Falls to view the glacial potholes and we’re looking forward to it. Shelburne Falls is now on our list of favorite places to visit. Interested in visiting Shelburne Falls and the Berkshire area?

For further information on visiting Shelburne Falls you can visit the sites below:

Village of Shelburne Falls, MA

Bridge of Flowers, Shelburne Fall, MA

Lamson & Goodnow Manufacturing Co.

List of Blooming on the Bridge.  A list of plantings on the Bridge of Flowers that you can expect to see from April 1st through Oct 30th.

We’d like to hear from you!

Have you been to Shelburne Falls? Did you visit the Bridge of Flowers or the Glacial Potholes?

We’d like to hear about your experiences there, please leave your comments below – thanks!