It's generally a long, uncertain road in the United States from the merely out-of-date to the venerable, and in 1927 the High Bridge barely escaped demolition, losing its magnificent river-spanning center arches to a single, uninspiring steel span, to allow larger ships to pass beneath.

John B. Jervis, who engineered the Croton Aqueduct (and thus the High Bridge) was a remarkable guy. A largely self-taught engineer, he started out as an axeman(clearing trees and brush) on the Erie Canal, and advanced to one of the lead engineers. The water supply system of NYC had become a morass of political inaction and infighting when he took over the Croton construction, and he was in large part personally responsible for its successful completion. Port Jervis, NY is named for him. His autobiography is an inspiring read.