Bridgeport Covered Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bridgeport Covered Bridge |
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View of the Bridgeport Covered Bridge
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| Coordinates | 39°17′33.86″N 121°11′41.66″W / 39.2927389°N 121.1949056°W |
| Carries | Pedestrian |
| Crosses | South Yuba River |
| Locale | Nevada County, California |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Howe truss with auxiliary arch covered bridge |
| Total length | 233 feet (71 m) |
| Longest span | 208 feet (63 m) |
| Load limit | 13 Tons (Current estimate at 3 tons due to age of timbers) |
| History | |
| Designer | David Ingefield Wood |
| Opened | 1862 |
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Bridgeport Covered Bridge
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| Nearest city | French Corral, CA |
| Built | 1862 |
| Architectural style | Howe truss with an auxiliary Burr Arch Truss |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000168 |
| Added to NRHP | July 14, 1971 |
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The Bridgeport Covered Bridge is a very old and special bridge in Bridgeport, Nevada County, California. It crosses the South Yuba River. This bridge was built way back in 1862 by a man named David John Wood. The wood for the bridge came from Plum Valley in Sierra County, California.
For many years, cars could drive across the bridge. But in 1972, it was closed to cars. Then, in 2011, it was closed to people walking too. This happened because the bridge was getting old and needed a lot of repairs.
Good news! In 2014, the state of California decided to help. They set aside $1.3 million to fix the bridge. The plan was to first make it stable, then fully restore it. This amazing bridge is known for having the longest clear single span of any wooden covered bridge still standing in the world!
Why is this bridge special?
The Bridgeport Covered Bridge is a very important historical site. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. This means it's recognized as a place worth protecting because of its history. It's also a California Registered Historical Landmark.
There are four special plaques at the bridge site. One of them tells us more about the bridge's history. It says the bridge was built in 1862 by David J. Wood. It was part of a toll road called the Virginia Turnpike Company. This road was super important for carrying goods and supplies to mining towns, especially after gold and silver were found in the Comstock Lode in Nevada.
The bridge helped connect places like the San Francisco Bay to Virginia City, Nevada. Goods would travel by steamboat to Marysville, then by wagon over the mountains using roads like the Virginia Turnpike. Even after the Transcontinental Railroad was built, the bridge kept serving local communities.
The longest wooden bridge span
The Bridgeport Covered Bridge is famous for its length. A report from the U.S. Department of the Interior says its main span is about 208 to 210 feet long.
For a while, there was another bridge, the Old Blenheim Bridge, that was also very long. But after it was destroyed in 2011, the Bridgeport Covered Bridge became the clear winner. It is now officially the longest single-span wooden covered bridge still around today!
