Its predecessor, the wooden covered Union Bridge,[2] opened in 1874 and was demolished in 1907 after suffering extensive damage from a major flood that same year.

[6] The original attempt eleven hours earlier had been unsuccessful when five of the eight charges failed to detonate.

Sculptor Charles Keck designed four figures for the bridge, representing Native American chief Guyasuta, pioneer Christopher Gist, a mill worker, and a coal miner.

[10] The sculptures were salvaged from the bridge when it was razed in 1970 and, for a time, were displayed on the grounds of the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh.

[8] A structural footing from the bridge still survives on the north bank of the Allegheny River, not far from the south end zone of Acrisure Stadium; it was cleaned and carved out as the setting for a memorial statue of Fred Rogers.