Honey Run Covered Bridge
Also known as: Carr Hill Bridge
Why it's listed
Near Chico in Butte County, this 238-foot wooden covered bridge crosses Butte Creek on Honey Run Humbug Road. Built between 1894 and 1896 by S.A. Martindale after an earlier bridge washed out, it uses Pratt-type trusses and rests on twin concrete-filled metal piers. Its three spans, measuring 30, 128 and 80 feet, are unequal, and the center section has a higher roof than the sides. The nomination describes it as the only bridge in the United States with this arrangement and one of eleven covered bridges still standing in California. The crossing connected Chico with the mining and lumbering communities of Paradise and Magalia, and it carried constant traffic until the Skyway opened in 1951. A truck destroyed the eastern span in 1965. A local association restored that section in 1972 according to the original plans, and the housing and roof were later replaced. Today the bridge is used by pedestrians beside a public picnic ground.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the bridge is the only one in the United States with three unequal spans, and it is one of eleven covered bridges still standing in California. It also recalls early mining and settlement in the canyon, and until 1951 it carried the only road from Chico to Paradise.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 88000920, listed June 23, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Honey Run Humbug Rd., Chico |
|---|---|
| County | Butte County |
| Listed | June 23, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88000920 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1896-1938 |
| Architect / builder | S.A. Martindale, builder |
| Architectural style | Pratt type truss covered bridge |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Open for pedestrian use since its 1972 repair, with a public picnic area beside it; the housing and roof were replaced in 1984-1986. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 39.72875, -121.70348 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 88000920.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5893613
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.