Carneros Creek Bridge on Old Sonoma Road
Also known as: 21co017
Why it's listed
Carneros Creek Bridge carries Old Sonoma Road over Carneros Creek in Napa County, California. It is a single-span, earth-filled masonry arch of square-cut stone laid in regular courses, roughly 35 feet long and 28.5 feet wide, set in a rural landscape of trees and fields. Napa County commissioned it in 1895, and Newman E. Wing designed and built it in 1896 for $3,327.25. In 1914 the bridge was widened to a design by county engineer O.H. Buckman, using stone from the original quarry and moving much of the original parapet railing. Napa County kept building stone bridges long after most of California turned to metal trusses, helped by good local stone and skilled stonemasons. The bridge was found eligible under Criterion C in a 1980s statewide bridge survey and again in a 2002 update. It is valued as a fine example of a rare bridge type that retains its integrity of design and setting.
Significance in brief: The bridge is a fine example of a rare bridge type in California, the masonry arch, and is listed under Criterion C in the area of engineering at the local level. It reflects Napa County's continued use of stone arch construction after most of California had moved to metal trusses. It retains a high degree of integrity, including design and setting.
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 05000779, listed August 5, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Old Sonoma Rd., 0.2 mi. NE of CA 12/121, Napa |
|---|---|
| County | Napa County |
| Listed | August 5, 2005 |
| Reference number | 05000779 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1896 |
| Architect / builder | Wing, Newman E. (designer); Wing, Newman E. (contractor) |
| Architectural style | Other: Masonry Arch Bridge |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in vehicular road use; the form states the bridge retains its original appearance for all intents and purposes. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 38.25664, -122.34046 (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 05000779.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110493151
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.