Buttonwood Covered Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Buttonwood Covered Bridge |
|
|---|---|
Buttonwood Covered Bridge and Blockhouse Creek, as seen from the northbound lane of US 15
|
|
| Coordinates | 41°30′36″N 77°07′48″W / 41.509894°N 77.130107°W |
| Carries | Township 816 |
| Crosses | Blockhouse Creek |
| Locale | Lycoming, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Official name | Buttonwood Covered Bridge |
| Named for | village of Buttonwood |
| Maintained by | Lycoming County |
| NBI Number | 417215081601110 |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | National Register of Historic Places |
| Total length | 74.2 ft (22.6 m) |
| Width | 14.4 ft (4.4 m) |
| Height | 10.7 ft (3.3 m) |
| Load limit | 3 tons (2.7 t) |
| MPS | Covered Bridges of Bradford, Sullivan and Lycoming Counties TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 80003569 |
| Added to NRHP | July 24, 1980 |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
The Buttonwood Covered Bridge is a special old covered bridge located in Jackson Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It was built a long time ago, either in 1878 or 1898. This bridge crosses over a stream called Blockhouse Creek.
The Buttonwood Covered Bridge is about 74 feet (22.6 m) long. It uses a special design called a queen post with a king post truss. This design helps the bridge stay strong. In 1980, the bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical site. It also had a big repair job in 1998 to keep it in good shape. Out of the three covered bridges left in Lycoming County, the Buttonwood Covered Bridge is the shortest and the most used.
What is a Covered Bridge?
A covered bridge is a bridge that has a roof and sides. They look a bit like a long, narrow barn. People built roofs on bridges to protect the wooden parts from rain and snow. This helped the bridges last much longer. Without a roof, the wood would rot quickly from the weather.
Bridge Design and Strength
The Buttonwood Covered Bridge uses a design called a queen post truss with a king post truss.
- A truss is a framework of triangles. Triangles are very strong shapes.
- A king post truss has one main vertical post in the middle.
- A queen post truss has two vertical posts, with a horizontal beam connecting their tops.
These designs help spread the weight of traffic evenly across the bridge. This makes the bridge strong enough to carry vehicles safely over the creek.
History and Importance
The exact year the Buttonwood Covered Bridge was built is either 1878 or 1898. It's a bit of a mystery! What we do know is that it's a very old and important part of the area's history.
Being listed on the National Register of Historic Places means the bridge is recognized for its historical value. This helps protect it for future generations. In 1998, the bridge had a big restoration. This was a major repair project to fix any damage and make sure the bridge stays safe and strong for many more years.
The Buttonwood Covered Bridge is still used today by cars and trucks. It's a great example of old-fashioned engineering and a reminder of how people built things in the past.
