The oldest bridge in Nuremberg over the Pegnitz is believed to be on the site of today's museum bridge. A wooden bridge is documented for the 13th century. Since the structure connected the Franciscan monastery with the city, it was called the Barfüsser Bridge. However, floods repeatedly destroyed the bridge at this location in the following centuries. In 1484 a new building followed with stone substructures and a wooden superstructure.
In 1590 the building was again badly damaged by floods. Due to the ongoing maintenance work, the city decided in 1699 to replace the structure with a completely solid bridge. In 1700 the bridge was built with two stone arch openings and named after King Joseph I as Joseph's or King's Bridge. The Pegnitz crossing was decorated with two baroque pulpit structures with wrought iron grilles, which were arranged on the river pillar. The western structure is decorated with the coats of arms of the six members of the city government at the time.
In the 19th century, the name was changed to Museum Bridge because the “Museum” society, a social and reading society, owned a meeting house on the site of the former Barfüßerkirche.[1][2]
The museum bridge was damaged by bombs during the Second World War. In 1954, as part of flood protection in the old town, the building was demolished and rebuilt.[3] It was rebuilt with the appearance of 1700, but with double width and three openings. The construction costs were 500,000 DM
Source: Wikipedia