Erb's Covered Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Erb's Covered Bridge |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Coordinates | 40°10′04″N 76°14′38″W / 40.16778°N 76.24389°W |
| Locale | Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Official name | Hammer Creek #1 Bridge |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | single span, double Burr arch truss |
| Total length | 70 feet (21.3 m) |
| History | |
| Constructed by | Unknown |
| Construction begin | 1849 |
| Construction end | Last rebuilt = 1887 |
The Erb's Covered Bridge is a special kind of bridge. It crosses over Hammer Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. This bridge is owned and taken care of by the county. Its official name is the Hammer Creek #1 Bridge.
This bridge is made of wood and has a unique design. It uses something called a double Burr arch truss. This design helps make the bridge very strong. The floor of the bridge is made from strong oak wood.
The bridge is painted red, which is a common color for covered bridges in Lancaster County. Both the inside and outside are red. The paths leading up to the bridge are painted white.
The Erb's Covered Bridge is listed in the World Guide to Covered Bridges. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. This means it is an important historical site. You can find the bridge on Erb's Bridge Road. It's about a mile north of Pennsylvania Route 772.
History of the Bridge
The Erb's Covered Bridge was first built in 1849. It cost about $700 to build back then. The bridge was placed on land owned by the Erb family. This area was a farming region along Hammer Creek.
Later, in 1887, the bridge needed to be rebuilt. A builder named John G. Bowman did the work. The cost for rebuilding was $1744.
Bridge Size and Features
The Erb's Covered Bridge has specific measurements. These help people know if their vehicles can fit through it.
- Length: The main part of the bridge is 70 feet long (about 21.3 meters). The total length of the bridge is 80 feet (about 24.4 meters).
- Width: The clear space for cars to drive is 13 feet, 1 inch wide (about 4 meters). The total width of the bridge is 15 feet (about 4.6 meters).
- Overhead Clearance: This is how much space there is from the road to the top of the bridge. It is 11 feet, 6 inches (about 3.5 meters).
- Underclearance: This is the space from the water or ground below to the bottom of the bridge. It is 9 feet, 6 inches (about 2.9 meters).
