It’s hot, it’s humid, it’s time to get out of the city. Where to, you ask? Why, the quaint little town of Shelburne Falls, of course! Ok, this won’t take all day, so first maybe stop by the Deerfield River, rent a floatie and drift in the cool water for a while. Next, we’ll head to downtown Shelburne Falls, grab a sandwich and walk over to the Flower Bridge to take in the gorgeous scenery. The bridge is lush and dripping with colorful flowers against a mountainous backdrop.

Originally, a trolley bridge built in 1908 used to haul heavy freight, local goods and passengers. By the late 1920’s the railway company had gone bankrupt, they were unable to keep up with the progress made by the more widespread use of automobiles and trucks. The bridge sat there as an eye sore. as demolition would have been immensely costly and it carried a water main across the river. The idea of a bridge of beauty was born thanks to Shelburne Falls residents Mr. and Mrs. Burnham and Clara Barnard. The bridge was purchased by the Shelburne Falls Fire District and with the help of the Shelburne Falls Women’s Club and other organizations in town, the funding and labor were raised to start the project of turning this eye sore into a floral destination. The bridge went through a huge restoration project in the 1980’s. During that time all of the original plants, trees and flowers were stored and cared for in private gardens. This piece of history is a must see for any flower lover!