Seneca Falls, New York: Bridge That Inspired "It's A Wonderful Life"
The George Bailey Bridge supposedly inspired the whole Jimmy-Stewart-jumping-off-the-bridge plot thread in the famous 1946 Christmas film. Bronze plaques testify to its cultural importance.
- Address:
- Bridge St., Seneca Falls, NY
- Directions:
- US Hwy 20 into town. Drive to 161 Fall St., turn south onto S. Walnut St., and you'll see the bridge straight ahead. Off-street parking at either end of the bridge (It's a short bridge). The film plaque is bolted to the superstructure at the end of the bridge; the 1917 plaque is bolted to the railing along the pedestrian walkway on the east side of the bridge.
- Admission:
- Free
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Once again, Roadside America takes me to amazing places. How cool is it to stumble through Seneca Falls, New York and find the bridge that inspired the movie "It's A Wonderful Life."
[Brian From Rockland County NY, 10/15/2021]
The It's A Wonderful Life Museum sells bells for $20 that you can write a lost loved one's name on and attach to the bridge in their memory. There were so many on the bridge! Lovely idea!
[Chrissie, 08/09/2019]
Seneca Falls is the location of the bridge that inspired Frank Capra's bridge scene with Jimmy Stewart in the Christmas classic "It's A Wonderful Life."
[Chris Harmon, 04/23/2015]
The bridge that Jimmy Stewart jumped from in the iconic Christmas film is in Seneca Falls.
[Taylor Mehaffy, 03/17/2015]Nearby Offbeat Places
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The bridge has two bronze plaques: one honors a man who in 1917 "gave his life to save another" (apparently by jumping off the bridge), and the other states that "the design of the Bridge Street bridge" is notably similar to the one in the 1946 film.