Fair Oaks Bridge, Old,
Also known as: American River Bridge at Fair Oaks
Why it's listed
Spanning the American River between Fair Oaks and Gold River, this steel bridge was completed in 1907 and runs about 483 feet. Two large Pennsylvania Petit through trusses and a short Pratt pony truss rest on three concrete piers, which kept the number of supports in the river's strong current to a minimum. For decades it was the only crossing of the lower American River in the area, carrying cars from 1915 until 1967 and tying Fair Oaks to the Southern Pacific railroad, which helped local farmers ship their goods and encouraged the growth of churches, schools, shops and civic groups. A bridge at Sunrise Boulevard replaced it as the main crossing in 1955. Built by the Western Bridge and Construction Company of Omaha, it is the only California truss bridge of its period built by an out-of-state firm and one of ten Pennsylvania Petit bridges left in the state. Today it carries walkers and cyclists, and its structure remains largely original.
Significance in brief: The bridge is significant locally under Criterion A because it was the only crossing of the lower American River in the area until 1955. It linked Fair Oaks to the railroad and encouraged community growth. It is significant at the state level under Criterion C as one of ten surviving Pennsylvania Petit truss bridges in California, the second oldest, and a rare California work of the Western Bridge and Construction Company of Omaha.
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 06000913, listed September 25, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Crosses America R. at Bridge St. to American R Pkwy,N of Upper Sunrise Dr. in Gold R, Fair Oaks |
|---|---|
| County | Sacramento County |
| Listed | September 25, 2006 |
| Reference number | 06000913 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1907-1955 |
| Architect / builder | Designer: Givan, A., C.E. and Phinney, C.M., SacCS; Contractor: Western Bridge and Construction Company of Omaha |
| Architectural style | Other (Pennsylvania Petit through truss with Pratt pony truss approach span) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Engineering, Community Planning and Development |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Closed to automobile traffic in 1967; now used as a pedestrian and bicycle crossing connecting to the American River Parkway. The nomination reports the structure as largely unaltered apart from paint, new Trex decking, a metal fence and a replaced south approach. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 38.63788, -121.26616 (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 06000913.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5429887
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.