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The Memorial Bridge (Thai: สะพานปฐมบรมราชานุสรณ์) is a bridge over the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, in Thailand, connecting the districts Phra Nakhon and Thonburi.
More on the bridges and the surrounding area can be found here in our Bangkok Forum.
The bridge was opened on 6 April 1932, by King Prajadhipok (Rama VII) in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Chakri Dynasty and the foundation of Bangkok, shortly before the Siamese Coup d'état on 24 June 1932. In English the bridge is commonly known as Memorial Bridge, however in Thai it is most commonly known as Phra Phutta Yodfa Bridge (สะพานพระพุทธยอดฟ้า), after King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke (Rama I), the first king of the Chakri Dynasty..
Construction of the bridge was started on 3 December 1929 by Dorman Long, Middlesbrough, England. The bridge used to have a moving mechanism, which is now disused.
On 5 June 1944 as part of the bombing of Bangkok in World War II, a force of B-29 Superfortresses, in a test of their capabilities before being deployed against the Japanese home islands, were targeted against the bridge. The bombs fell over two kilometers away damaging no civilian structures, but downed some tram lines and destroyed a Japanese military hospital and the Japanese secret police headquarters. It was not until 1947 that Thai authorities learned of the intended target.
From the Memorial Bridge you will find Princess Mother Memorial Garden a nice place to visit, it is just a short walk away.