Hansen Bridge
Also known as: Pearl Street Bridge; Downie River Bridge; Scott's Bridge; Bailey's Bridge; Bridge 13C0003
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Why it's listed
Hansen Bridge carries a single lane of traffic across the Downie River in Downieville, linking Upper Main and Pearl Streets. Built in 1935 by Lord and Bishop of Sacramento for $1,975, it is an 80-foot steel Pratt pony truss, 12 feet 4 inches wide, with riveted steel plates, wooden stringers and an asphalt surface laid over corrugated metal. The bridge matters because of its link to the town's development and to the December 1937 flood. That flood collapsed the Highway 49 concrete arch bridge and destroyed two wooden bridges downstream, while this bridge suffered damage to its footings. County engineer George Taylor chose to repair it, and it returned to service by 1938. It is one of four single-lane bridges still in Downieville, three of them open to vehicles. Low-side steel truss bridges once common in California are now scarce, and few remain as single-lane crossings in daily use. The period of significance runs from 1935 to 1938.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant under Criterion A at the local level for its association with the development of Downieville and its role after the December 1937 flood that destroyed three downstream bridges. It is also presented as a rare surviving single-lane low-side steel truss bridge still carrying vehicles. It is one of four single-lane steel truss bridges that together reflect 1930s-era travel in the town.
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 12000399, listed July 10, 2012. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | E. River St. between Upper Main & Pearl Sts., Downieville |
|---|---|
| County | Sierra County |
| Listed | July 10, 2012 |
| Reference number | 12000399 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1935-1938 |
| Architect / builder | Lord and Bishop, Sacramento, CA |
| Architectural style | Low-side steel truss bridge (Pratt pony truss) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still carries automobile and pedestrian traffic over the Downie River; the asphalt surface and sheet metal railing are later additions, while the original steel railings remain. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.56336, -120.82521 (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 12000399.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q130571855
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.