California Powder Works Bridge facts for kids
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California Powder Works Bridge
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 Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Santa Cruz, California |
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| NRHP reference No. | 15000279 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | February 27, 2015 |
| Designated NHL | February 27, 2015 |
The California Powder Works Bridge is a special old covered bridge located in Santa Cruz, California. It was built way back in 1872. This bridge is a great example of a unique design called a Smith truss.
It was built by a company that made explosives, the California Powder Works. Their factory was right by the San Lorenzo River, which the bridge crosses. In 2015, this bridge was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it's one of the most important historic places in the whole country! It's still used today by people walking and driving, but only for vehicles weighing less than 5 tons.
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Discovering the California Powder Works Bridge
This historic bridge is found about 2 miles (3 km) north of downtown Santa Cruz. It stretches over the San Lorenzo River. You can find it just downstream from Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park.
What Makes the Bridge Special?
The California Powder Works Bridge carries a private road called Keystone Way. This road is part of a neighborhood known as the Paradise Park Masonic Club. The bridge is quite long, measuring about 180 feet (55 meters) in total. Its main span is 163 feet (50 meters) long.
The bridge is also wide, about 30 feet (9 meters) across. The part where cars drive is about 19 feet (5.9 meters) wide. The main parts of the bridge, called trusses, are made from strong Douglas fir wood. The roof is made of corrugated metal. The outside of the bridge has vertical wooden boards, giving it a classic look.
Building the Bridge in 1872
The Pacific Bridge Company built this bridge. They made the main parts at their factory in Alameda. Then, they brought the pieces and put the bridge together in 1872.
It was built for the California Powder Works company. Their big factory was on the east side of the river. This company made explosives from 1863 until 1914. After that, most of the factory was taken down and left empty. Later, a group called the Masonic organization bought the land. They turned it into a summer community they named "Paradise Park."
Why the Smith Truss is Important
The California Powder Works Bridge is one of only 23 known historic bridges in the United States that use a Smith truss design. These bridges were built before 1955. A study by the National Park Service found that this bridge is the longest and one of the best-preserved examples of its kind.
The Smith Bridge Company sold this type of bridge all over the country. For a short time, these wooden bridges were very popular. They even competed with iron bridges, which were becoming more common back then.
