The Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge, known locally as “The Zakim,” is one of Boston’s most striking landmarks and a modern engineering marvel. Spanning the Charles River, this cable-stayed bridge connects Boston’s North End to Charlestown, seamlessly blending into the skyline with its soaring white towers and sweeping cables.

Named in honor of civil rights leader Leonard P. Zakim and the Battle of Bunker Hill, a defining moment in the American Revolution, the bridge stands as a powerful symbol of Boston’s past and future. Opened in 2003 as part of the Big Dig, it was designed to ease congestion on Interstate 93 and has since become one of the widest and most visually iconic cable-stayed bridges in the world.

Its twin towers, inspired by the nearby Bunker Hill Monument, rise 270 feet above the water, and at night, the bridge glows with blue and white lights, casting a breathtaking reflection over the Charles River.

Though the Zakim Bridge itself does not have a pedestrian walkway, you can get up close from the North Bank Pedestrian Bridge, which connects Paul Revere Park in Charlestown to North Point Park in Cambridge. These scenic spots offer some of the most stunning views of the bridge, especially at sunset, when its silhouette stands out against the Boston skyline.