Bridgeport Covered Bridge
-L1006843.jpg){kind=link}
Why it's listed
Spanning the South Fork of the Yuba River on the county road between Smartsville and French Corral, this wooden covered bridge was built in 1862 by David Ingerfield Wood using local Douglas fir. Its clear span is roughly 235 feet, and the roadway is about 16 feet wide with plank decking. Massive granite blocks form the abutments. The main span uses a Howe Truss reinforced with an arch made of paired 5 by 14 inch timbers, with iron used for vertical tension rods, bearing shoes and bolts. Shakes cover the sides and roof. The bridge is described as the longest covered bridge in the west and the longest single-span covered bridge in the United States. It was part of the old turnpike that served Nevada City, North San Juan and the Malakoff Mines, and it is the only structure left reminiscent of the former settlement of Bridgeport. The bridge needs repair but remains in use and structurally strong.
Significance in brief: The nomination cites the bridge's engineering, architecture and transportation importance. It is described as the longest covered bridge in the west and the longest single-span covered bridge in the U.S. It was part of the old turnpike serving Nevada City, North San Juan and the Malakoff Mines, and is the only structure left reminiscent of Old Bridgeport.
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 71000168, listed July 14, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | SW of French Corral over S. Yuba River, French Corral |
|---|---|
| County | Nevada County |
| Listed | July 14, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000168 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1862 |
| Architect / builder | David Ingerfield Wood (also given as David L. Wood in the significance statement) |
| Architectural style | Wooden combination truss and arch construction (Howe Truss with auxiliary arch and counter struts) |
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in fair condition, unaltered and on its original site. It needs repair but is still in use and structurally strong. |
| Acreage | 20 |
| Coordinates | 39.28352, -121.19542 (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 71000168.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4966585
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.