The Monongahela Bridge was the first bridge to span the Monongahela River in Pittsburgh. It was built in 1819. The covered wooden structure was heavily damaged in 1832 by a runaway riverboat called the Freshet. The landmark structure was rebuilt, only to fall prey to the Great Fire of 1845, which reduced the wooden span to ashes in a little under 15 minutes. After the fire, a new suspension bridge was built in its place, the Smithfield Street Bridge.