Hospital Bridge
Also known as: Downieville Bridge; Downie River Bridge; Bridge 13C-005
Why it's listed
Spanning the Downie River between Upper Main Street and Lavazzola Road in Downieville, this 100-foot steel through Pratt truss bridge was designed by Sierra County Surveyor George F. Taylor and built by the Western Bridge and Construction Company of Omaha, Nebraska. Work began in 1908, but construction defects meant the county did not accept it until 1910. It was the town's first steel bridge and for decades the only vehicle route into the mining, timber and ranching country upstream. In December 1937 a flood destroyed or damaged Downieville's other bridges, while the Hospital Bridge remained intact. Afterward, the county built steel truss replacements rather than concrete spans. The bridge kept its original steel members and wooden deck. It was closed to vehicles in 1980 after a nearby concrete bridge opened, and it now carries pedestrians and mountain bikers. It was listed for its local importance and as a rare surviving pin-connected truss, with a period of significance of 1908 to 1937.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant under Criterion A for its role in Downieville's development and as the only intact bridge after the catastrophic 1937 flood. It is significant under Criterion C as a rare, well-preserved example of a steel pin-connected Pratt truss and of the work of a builder with few California bridges. Its survival influenced later truss bridge construction in Sierra County.
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 12000400, listed July 10, 2012. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Upper Main St. over Downie R., Downieville |
|---|---|
| County | Sierra County |
| Listed | July 10, 2012 |
| Reference number | 12000400 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1908-1937 |
| Architect / builder | Western Bridge & Construction Company, Omaha, NB - Builder; Taylor, George F, Sierra County Surveyor/Designer |
| Architectural style | Steel, pin connected, through Pratt truss |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Removed from vehicular service in 1980; today carries only pedestrian traffic and mountain bikers. All structural members and the wooden deck are original. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 39.56980, -120.82268 (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 12000400.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q75261719
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.