Historic photographs are a bridge through time. These 3 show Manitowoc's Eighth Street bridge across 140 years.

Photographs are a great way to get a glimpse into the past at a specific moment in time. But they only capture that one exact moment.

What is even more exciting is when a specific scene is photographed from the same angle years apart. This allows us to see how much change can happen in a short amount of time.

Within the archives of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum are more than 55,000 photographs with a vast range of topics relating to maritime history.

While the museum collects photographs and artifacts related to all of Wisconsin maritime history, there is quite a bit of local Manitowoc history to be found.

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The Eighth Street bridge is a well-known fixture in Manitowoc. Whether you are a resident in the area or just visiting, you have likely driven, biked or walked over the bridge. Perhaps you stood along the riverbank and watched as the bridge opened allowing for a boat to pass through. But have you ever looked east from the bridge toward Lake Michigan and wondered how much that scene has changed over the last 100 years?

The photographs seen here with this column were all taken from a similar angle showing a view from the Eighth Street bridge looking at the river and toward Lake Michigan.

The first photograph was taken in 1883, when Manitowoc was already establishing itself as a shipping hub.

The second photograph was taken about 20 years later, around the same time Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company first came together.

The third photograph was taken in the 1960s, showing a much different landscape along the riverbanks.

The difference among these three photographs is significant, showing how much can change over the span of 140 years.

Of course, not only has the view from the Eighth Street bridge changed over time, but the bridge itself has changed. Since the early 1860s, there has been a drawbridge connecting Eighth Street over the river. One of the more significant changes was the installation of a bascule bridge in 1926. At that point, the existing bridge was still in good condition, but a bascule bridge allowed for a 97-foot clear channel that improved on the previous bridge, which only allowed for a 60-foot clear channel. This was a much-needed change as ships on the Great Lakes continued to grow in size.

All of these factors affected the next — the river, harbor and surrounding area provided opportunities for shipping and commerce. As businesses established themselves in the region, the importance of Great Lakes shipping increased in Manitowoc. The bridges needed to change to accommodate the needs of the local economy, which changed the landscape along the river.

Of course, these photographs only show how things have changed around the Manitowoc River and Eighth Street bridge in the last 140 years. This represents only a fraction of the history that has happened and the history that will continue to be made along the banks of the river. The Wisconsin Maritime Museum will continue to be a part of that future as we preserve maritime history with the support of the community.

Serena Stuettgen is collections manager at Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc.

This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Manitowoc's Eighth Street bridge: Historic photos from 1883 to 1960s