‘The close bond between two nations’: Peace Bridge turns 100 this weekend
August 16, 2025 at 5:16 AM
A symbol of the enduring connection between Canada and the United States is turning 100 on Sunday.
August 17 marks the 100th anniversary since a groundbreaking ceremony signalled the start of construction on the Peace Bridge. When finished the bridge would connect Buffalo to Fort Erie, fulfilling a need that was identified seven decades earlier.
“The Peace Bridge symbolizes the close bond between two nations that have a shared heritage and were created with inherently similar values but by different journeys to nationhood,” Fort Erie Mayor Wayne Redekop told Fort Erie Radio in an interview.
There are records as far back as 1855 arguing for a bridge over the Niagara River to connect Buffalo and Fort Erie. Minutes from Buffalo Commons Council show a desire for a bridge. Between the middle of the 19th century and when construction finally began there were several organized efforts to get a bridge built.
However, when the First World War broke out, plans to build a bridge locally were put on hold. But only months after the end of the war, efforts to revive the project resumed, led by the West Side Businessmen’s Association of Buffalo.
Bridge companies on both sides of the river formed in the early 1920s before a single entity, the Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Company, was incorporated in 1925. It’s at that time that the “Peace Bridge” became the name for the memorial bridge project.
On August 17, 1925 on the Canadian side, officials held a groundbreaking ceremony. A few months later the first steel was laid, as crews were on their way to a record breaking achievement.
The final rivet was driven into place on October 25, 1926, beating the world record for steel bridge construction by five days.
Chief engineer Edward Lupfer received the honour of being the first to drive a vehicle over the bridge, doing so on May 13, 1927.
A couple weeks later the bridge opened to the public, with 25,000 cars crossing on opening day, June 1. Dorothy Gantzer became the first to walk the bridge, crossing from Fort Erie to Buffalo.
The bridge quickly became a popular crossing, and by 1963 there had been 100 million vehicles that used the bridge to cross the river to and from Canada.
Eight years later the QEW was directly connected to the bridge, while the New York State Thruway was connected to the U.S. plaza after previously being connected through Porter Avenue.
While relations between Canada and the United States may be a bit strained these days, Redekop said the bridge is a reminder of our long history of peace and friendship with our neighbours.
“No two nations in history have co-existed in peace and relative harmony for such a lengthy period of time. The bridge is a continuous reminder of how our two nations can accomplish remarkable things when we work together,” he said.
There’s a temporary exhibit up at town hall in the atrium commemorating the anniversary and a permanent display at the Buffalo-Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority building.
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About The Author
Luke Edwards
Luke Edwards is a longtime Niagara community journalist who has covered a variety of beats, including business, agriculture, the wine industry and politics. When not writing, there's a good chance he can be found at a baseball diamond or curling rink.
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