Downtown Belize City is riddled with historical remnants of a different time when Belize was only known as British Honduras. One of these time capsules is the well-known Swing Bridge which connects the north and south side of the city and is known to be the only bridge in the world still operated by hand. With the Haulover Creek tributary passing underneath to branch into the Caribbean Sea, the bridge was first erected in 1818 when it was only a wooden bridge. Later, it was replaced in 1859 and eventually replaced by a metal bridge in 1923.
Initially known as “The Grand Belize Bridge,” the swing bridge is a popular tourist attraction with a great view of all the sailboats and pelicans surrounding the site. While it has been through a few facelifts, the historic Hurricane Hattie and taken its toll through time, it is still operated today during very special ceremonies.