The Knight's Ferry Bridge is a historic covered bridge spanning the Stanislaus River at Knights Ferry, California. Built in 1863, it is one of the best-preserved 19th-century wood-iron Howe truss bridges to survive. It was designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 2012.[3][4]
Knight's Ferry Bridge | |
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| Location | Spanning Stanislaus River at bypassed section of Sonora Road, approximately 0.75 mile north of CA 108/120, Knight's Ferry, California |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Architectural style | Howe truss bridge |
| Part of | Knights Ferry (ID75000490[1]) |
| NRHP reference No. | 12001014[1][2] |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | October 16, 2012 |
| Designated NHL | October 16, 2012 |
| Designated CP | April 23, 1975 |
Description and history
editThe Knight's Ferry Bridge stands at the eastern edge of the small community of Knights Ferry, spanning the Stanislaus River a short distance upriver from the modern Sonora Road bridge. The bridge is almost 379 feet (116 m) long, with a total of four spans set on stone abutments and piers. In addition to spanning the river, the bridge crosses a historic millrace north of the river. The bridge sections consist of Howe trusses formed out of wooden planks bolted together, with wrought iron tension rods, all joined by wrought iron bearing blocks. The exterior of the bridge is finished in vertical board siding, with a metal roof.[4]
The bridge, the second to stand on the site, was built in 1862–63, after the first bridge (built 1856) was swept away during the Great Flood of 1862. Because of this flood, the new bridge was built on higher piers.[4] The bridge was for a long time known as the longest covered bridge west of the Mississippi River, and since the 2011 destruction of Old Blenheim Bridge in New York State, which had approximately the same length, it is the second-longest covered bridge in the United States, behind the Smolen-Gulf covered bridge in Ohio.
It was documented by the Historic American Buildings Survey and by the Historic American Engineering Record. In addition to its status as a National Historic Landmark, it is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing structure in the Knight's Ferry historic district.[5]
See also
edit- List of bridges documented by the Historic American Engineering Record in California
- List of bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in California
- List of covered bridges in California
- List of National Historic Landmarks in California
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Stanislaus County, California
References
edit- ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
- ^ "Weekly listings". National Park Service. November 2, 2012.
- ^ "National Historic Landmarks Program: Listing of National Historic Landmarks by State: California (147)" (PDF). National Park Service.
- ^ a b c "NHL nomination: Knight's Ferry Bridge" (PDF). National Park Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 10, 2017. Retrieved September 8, 2018. (Archived version of draft)
- ^ "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Knights Ferry". National Park Service. Retrieved September 1, 2018. With accompanying 14 photos
External links
edit
Media related to Knights Ferry Covered Bridge at Wikimedia Commons- Media related to HABS No. CA-158 (Covered Bridge) at Wikimedia Commons
- Media related to HAER No. CA-314 (Knight's Ferry Bridge) at Wikimedia Commons
- Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) No. CA-158, "Covered Bridge, Spanning Stanislaus River at Tulloch Mill", 3 photos
- Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) No. CA-314, "Knight's Ferry Bridge, Spanning Stanislaus River on bypassed section of Stockton–Sonora Road", 17 photos, 2 color transparencies, 9 measured drawings, 14 data pages, 2 photo caption pages
