ABSTRACT
Deep in the mountains near the Allegheny National Forest in Pennsylvania, USA lay the twisted ruins of the Kinzua Bridge, once an important transportation link and landmark for the region’s identity and heritage. Once the bridge fell out of use in the late 1950s, the Kinzua Bridge State Park was created to promote tourism and highlight the region’s history and exceptional natural landscapes. Yet, tragedy struck in 2003 when a rare tornado tore through the valley and knocked over 11 of the bridge’s 20 towers. A new heritagescape was then created around the ruined bridge with various hiking trails, a visitor center, and a transparent “Sky Walk” over the remaining parts of the bridge. Set within a wider discussion of the development of heritagescapes, we position the Kinzua Bridge State Park as a unique example of a landscape transformed by different use values over time. As heritagescapes are intrinsically linked with nature, we also show how natural disasters and climate change can play a significant role in the heritage-making process and that creative adaptations can be viewed as an acceptance and recognition of the natural processes of time while still acknowledging the affective and emotional dimensions embedded in heritagescapes.
