Global Hydraulic Attractions and Landmarks

Crossing the Atlantic to the shores of Lake Michigan – one of the world’s largest freshwater lakes – we arrive at one of Wisconsin’s most iconic hydraulic attractions: the Milwaukee Art Museum.

Designed by renowned Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and completed in 2001, the museum has become a defining feature of Milwaukee’s waterfront skyline. Its most striking element? A pair of wing-like sunscreens made up of 72 steel fins, stretching to an awe-inspiring 217-foot wingspan.

But this 90-ton (81.6 metric tonne) structure isn’t just for show. Thanks to 22 hydraulic cylinders – 11 on each side – the wings can open or close in just 3.5 minutes, transforming the museum’s silhouette with graceful precision. The system also includes wind sensors that automatically retract the wings when gusts exceed 23 mph, ensuring both safety and functionality.

The Milwaukee Art Museum’s unique wings and location on the water bank of Lake Michigan have made it one of the city’s most recognisable landmarks.

Next on our list of remarkable hydraulic attractions is the Slauerhoffbrug, also known as the “Flying Drawbridge,” located in the Dutch city of Leeuwarden. This striking structure is the first of three bridges in this article which use hydraulic systems to combine functionality with bold, modern design.

Unlike traditional drawbridges, the Slauerhoffbrug operates on a diagonal swing hinge. When closed, it appears as a standard road section flanked by two large arms. But when river traffic approaches, the transformation begins: two powerful hydraulic cylinders – one on each arm – extend in unison. Working in tandem with a massive counterweight, they lift a 15m x 15m square of roadway a dramatic 45 metres straight into the air.

The underside of the bridge deck is painted in vivid blue and yellow, proudly reflecting the colours of Leeuwarden’s city flag. When raised, the suspended road slab floats high above the skyline, creating a surreal and unforgettable visual – an airborne slab of infrastructure hovering above trees and rooftops.

If you enjoyed reading about the Anderton Boat Lift in our article on UK hydraulic attractions, you’ll be fascinated by its North American counterpart: the Peterborough Lift Lock in Ontario, Canada. Located on the Trent–Severn Waterway, this monumental structure is one of the world’s tallest boat lifts – and a marvel of early 20th-century hydraulic engineering.

Completed in 1904, 29 years after the Anderton Lift, the Peterborough Lift Lock stands 19.8 metres (65 feet) tall – 4.6 metres higher than its British predecessor. Like the Anderton, it uses a pair of massive, interconnected hydraulic cylinders to raise and lower two water-filled caissons (giant tubs that carry boats). Each caisson weighs over 1,500 metric tonnes when filled, yet the system operates without any external power source.

Here’s how it works: the upper caisson is stopped just below the water level of the canal. When a valve is opened, water flows into the caisson, making it slightly heavier than the one below. This weight difference forces hydraulic fluid from the extended cylinder into the retracted one, gently lowering the heavier caisson while raising the lighter one. The cylinders – each 2.3 metres in diameter – work in perfect balance, powered entirely by gravity.

The Peterborough Lift Lock remains one of the most impressive hydraulic attractions more than 120 years after its construction, blending elegant physics with enduring functionality over a century after its construction.