New Salem Covered Bridge
Why it's listed
This covered timber bridge crosses a branch of Grove Creek on State Route S992 in Banks County, Georgia, north of Commerce. W. M. Thomas, who built a number of covered bridges in the county, completed it in 1915. It has one 47-foot span, is 15 feet wide, and rests on concrete abutments. The frame uses a Multiple Kingpost truss of heart pine timbers, reinforced by iron rods on each side, with a metal roof and plain barn-type portals. The sides are rough pine board and batten. Banks County once had about 30 covered bridges but only three remain, and Georgia has 21 in total. The Kingpost design is the oldest and simplest truss type, normally used for short spans, and here it was modified for a longer one. The bridge once connected two north-south highways serving Commerce and Carnesville. A modern concrete bridge now carries traffic, and the old structure is weak but still draws visitors who stop to photograph it.
Significance in brief: It is one of only three covered bridges left in Banks County, which once had about 30, and one of 21 remaining in Georgia. It is one of four in the state using a Kingpost truss, modified here to carry a 47-foot span. It once served a lateral county road linking two north-south highways.
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 75000570, listed June 10, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 6 mi. N of Commerce on SR S992 over Grove Creek, Commerce |
|---|---|
| County | Banks County |
| Listed | June 10, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75000570 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1915 |
| Architect / builder | W. M. Thomas |
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Bypassed by a modern concrete bridge and no longer in use; described as structurally weak, in fair condition, and standing because it is bypassed and its roof is sound. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 34.25843, -83.42211 (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 75000570.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q58904099
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.