Guerneville Bridge
Also known as: Russian River Bridge No. 20-91
Why it's listed
Carrying State Highway 116 across the Russian River at Guerneville, this 948-foot bridge was completed in 1922. It has 21 spans: three 180-foot pin-connected steel through trusses on concrete piers, flanked by seven approach spans on the south and eleven on the north, all built of reinforced concrete. A cantilevered sidewalk was added on the downstream side six years after construction. The bridge was listed for its role in the Russian River resort region. In the 1920s and 1930s, vacationers from San Francisco and Santa Rosa increasingly arrived by automobile, and this crossing was the only practical road access to the Guerneville resorts. Its north end meets five roads, which helped concentrate groceries, garages, restaurants and other businesses at the town's center. It was also part of a county highway program approved by voters in 1919. The designer is recorded as W. Lloyd Hook. Later changes, including skid rails and modern lighting, are described as minor.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the bridge is significant under Criterion A for its link to the Russian River summer resort area. It was the only practical auto access to the Guerneville resort segment, and it shaped the town's commerce and layout, with five roads converging at its north end. It is also described as the oldest auto bridge over the Russian River on a major road to the resorts.
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 89000945, listed August 4, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Rt. 116 over Russian River, Guerneville |
|---|---|
| County | Sonoma County |
| Listed | August 4, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000945 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1922-1939 |
| Architect / builder | Hook, W. Lloyd |
| Architectural style | Pratt through truss |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Entertainment/Recreation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still carries Highway 116 traffic and pedestrians; the form says it retains a high degree of integrity, with minor alterations such as added skid rails, utility cables, modern street lamps and a chain-link fence. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 38.50103, -122.99549 (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 89000945.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q58491943
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.