Knight's Ferry Bridge

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
LocationSpanning Stanislaus River at bypassed section of Sonora Rd., approx. .75 mile north of CA 108/120, Knight's Ferry, California
Arealess than one acre
Architectural styleHowe truss bridge
Part ofKnights Ferry (ID75000490[1])
NRHP reference No.12001014[1] [2]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPOctober 16, 2012
Designated NHLOctober 16, 2012
Designated CPApril 23, 1975

Description and history

The 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]

2004 HABS/HAER photo

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 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

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
  2. "Weekly listings". National Park Service. November 2, 2012.
  3. "National Historic Landmarks Program: Listing of National Historic Landmarks by State: California (147)" (PDF). National Park Service.
  4. "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)
  5. "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Knights Ferry". National Park Service. Retrieved September 1, 2018. With accompanying 14 photos
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