Bridge in City of Wilkes-Barre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Bridge in City of Wilkes-Barre
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Bridge in City of Wilkes-Barre, Summer 1999
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | LR 5 (River Street) (SR 2004) over Mill Creek, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Architectural style | Single span stone arch |
| MPS | Highway Bridges Owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Transportation TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 88000828 |
| Added to NRHP | June 22, 1988 |
The Bridge in City of Wilkes-Barre is a historic stone arch bridge that crosses Mill Creek in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. This special bridge is located in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. It's a single arch bridge, meaning it has one big curve that supports the road above it.
This bridge is about 75-foot-long (23 m) (that's like 23 meters) and its main arch spans 39-foot-long (12 m) (about 12 meters). Because of its age and importance, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. This list includes buildings, sites, and structures that are important to American history.
What is a Stone Arch Bridge?
A stone arch bridge is a type of bridge that uses a curved structure called an arch to support the weight of the road above. Imagine a strong, curved doorway made of stones. The stones are cut and placed very carefully. They fit together tightly without needing glue or cement to hold them up. The arch shape helps to spread the weight evenly. This makes the bridge very strong and able to last for a long time.
Stone arch bridges were very common before modern materials like steel and concrete became popular. They are known for being very durable. Many of these bridges, like the one in Wilkes-Barre, are still in use today. They show us how clever engineers were many years ago.
Why is This Bridge Special?
The Bridge in City of Wilkes-Barre is special for a few reasons. First, it's a great example of old bridge building. It shows how people used to build strong structures with natural materials like stone. Second, it has been an important part of the local community for many years. It helps people travel across Mill Creek every day.
Being on the National Register of Historic Places means this bridge is recognized as an important piece of history. It's like a museum piece that you can still drive over! This listing helps to protect the bridge. It makes sure it will be taken care of for future generations to see and use. It reminds us of the past and how our towns grew.
How Old is the Bridge?
The Bridge in City of Wilkes-Barre was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 22, 1988. This means it was already quite old and important by that time. While the exact building date isn't always easy to find for very old structures, being listed as "historic" means it has stood for many decades, possibly even over a century.
Bridges like this one often played a big role in the development of towns. They connected different areas and made it easier for people to trade goods and travel. The age of this bridge tells us a story about the history of Wilkes-Barre. It shows how the city developed around important crossing points like this one.
