Garnett Creek Bridge on CA 29
Also known as: Bridge No. 21-0005
Why it's listed
Carrying State Highway 29 over Garnett Creek near Calistoga, this stone arch bridge was built in two phases twelve years apart. The first span went up in 1902, designed by J.M. Graham and built by contractor H.W. Wing. In 1914 two more spans were added on the southeast side, designed by Napa County Surveyor O.H. Buckman and built by A.C. Martini for $2,759. The result is an 81-foot, two-lane structure with a 19.5-foot roadway, made of square-cut stone laid in irregular courses, with stone railings. Its outer spans measure 20 feet and the middle span 25 feet. It was listed for its engineering significance as an example of masonry arch construction, a rare bridge type in California. Napa County kept building stone bridges long after other regions abandoned them, helped by nearby quarries and skilled stonemasons. Surveys in the 1980s and in 2003 found that the bridge retains its design and setting, and it is the only masonry arch bridge on a state highway in the county judged eligible.
Significance in brief: The bridge is argued to be a good example of the many masonry arch bridges built in Napa County in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and a fine example of a rare bridge type in California. It is the only masonry arch bridge on a state highway in Napa County that retains sufficient integrity to be considered eligible. It was listed under Criterion C in the area of engineering at the local level.
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 05000776, listed August 5, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | CA 29 over Garnett Creek at postmile 39.08, Calistoga |
|---|---|
| County | Napa County |
| Listed | August 5, 2005 |
| Reference number | 05000776 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1902, 1914 |
| Architect / builder | Graham, J.M. (designer); Wing, H.W. (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 as a state highway bridge, in a rural setting of trees and fields. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 38.59304, -122.59139 (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 05000776.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q133307927
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.