Bridges and streets: Discover the US traces in Vienna

Von WOM

Vienna has a rich connection to American history, which is not only shown in political relationships, but also reflects in districts and street names. These links are often the result of historical visits by former US presidents and the importance of American personalities in science and art. For example, the Rooseveltplatz, which was named after Franklin D. Roosevelt, is a central example of the ongoing traces that the United States left in Vienna.

Very few may know that the first US President, George Washington, Vienna also had an honor. The George Washington Hof is located in Triester Straße in the 10th district and was named in 1932 on the occasion of its 200th birthday. This shows how deeply American culture is rooted in Vienna's identity.

bridges and their history

Another remarkable example is the Kennedybrücke , which leads over the Vienna River. This bridge was named after John F. Kennedy, who had previously visited Vienna in December 1963. As a daughter of politics and a decisive figure in history, Kennedy was a symbol of transatlantic relationships during the Cold War.

The Philadelphiabrücke , which is located at the Meidling train station, has an equally fascinating origin. The name is reminiscent of the first steam locomotive that was sent to Vienna by Philadelphia. The bridge was originally nameless until 1841, but was then renamed "Philadelphia Bridge" due to the locomotive, which symbolized this connection.

A flourishing network for Americans

In recent years, Vienna has increasingly taken care of making women who have a connection to the United States visible in the cityscapes. An example of this is the Jane-Jacobs-Steg , which was named after the influential urbanist and was opened in 2020. In the Seestadt Aspern there are further honors, such as the AM-OSTROM-PARK , named after the political scientist Elinor Ostrom.

Another remarkable place is the djerassiplatz in the 3rd district, which was named after Carl Djerassi, a chemist born in Vienna who invented the first antibabopill. Such names show how the city recognizes the effects of its citizens, which were famous in the distance.

Vienna is not forgotten in the memory of many other US scientists. The Safargasse , also in the 3rd district, named after Peter Safar, who founded the first intensive care unit in the USA and is considered a pioneer in resuscitation.

Likewise, the Edisonstrasse in Floridsdorf after Thomas Edison, while the Morsegasse Samuel Morse, is the inventor of the MorseAealphabet. These streets are evidence of the recognition of services that went far beyond the borders of their birthland.

The presence of these personalities makes it clear how important the connections between Vienna and the USA are, and shows a mutual appreciation that goes beyond political relationships. In many aspects, the names of these streets and places are alive memories of the important role that Americans played in the history and development of Vienna.