Foote's Crossing Road
Why it's listed
Foote's Crossing Road is a 15.1-mile unpaved route linking the site of Columbia Hill in Nevada County with Alleghany in Sierra County. Completed in 1913, it drops into the Middle Fork of the Yuba River canyon at an even seven percent grade and climbs the far side, averaging about fifteen feet wide. Its most admired feature is roughly one mile of dry-laid stone wall that forms the bed and retaining wall along a steep cliff, built by skilled stone masons working from hanging stagings. Mining engineer A.D. Foote conceived the project to replace a nearly impassable route to the Alleghany mines, cutting a five-day supply trip to three days and allowing year-round travel. Funding came from both counties, the Forest Service and the Tightner Mine, and costs rose from an estimate of $7,000 to $85,000, much of it paid by Foote. The road remains in use and largely unchanged, which supports its recognition for engineering, its link to Foote and its role in mining transportation.
Significance in brief: The road is significant as an engineering achievement, especially its dry-laid rock wall in Nevada County (Criterion C). It is also a notable work of mining engineer A.D. Foote (Criterion B). It served as a crucial transportation link to the Alleghany mines, and the form states it retains a high degree of integrity.
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 81000180, listed January 29, 1981. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Tahoe National Forest, Nevada City |
|---|---|
| County | Sierra County |
| Listed | January 29, 1981 |
| Reference number | 81000180 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1913 (Completed) |
| Architect / builder | A.D. Foote, Engineer |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as Road 191 in Sierra County and Road A in Nevada County; the Sierra County stretch is more deteriorated, with deeper washouts. |
| Acreage | 37.3 |
| Coordinates | 39.43892, -120.90437 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 81000180.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5466454
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.