Red Covered Bridge
Why it's listed
Carrying Old Dad Joe Trail across Bureau Creek near Princeton, this covered bridge was built by Bureau County in 1863 for $3,148.57. Bureau County paid $1,000, Dover Township $600, and public subscription $1,548.57. The main span is a timber Howe truss about 95 feet long, covered with wooden plank siding and resting on masonry piers, with a 15-foot-6-inch roadway and 12 feet of vertical clearance. Short uncovered approach spans of 36 and 18 feet use steel I-beams. The nomination describes it as the only covered bridge in the area and a good example of early bridge construction in northern Illinois. Over the years the state transportation department repaired the piers, the south portal after a 1967 truck accident, and in 1973 replaced the roof and planking. Rip rap and a small weir dam were added in 1974 after flood damage. Signs at each end still list the original fines for driving livestock too fast across it.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the only covered bridge in the area and a good example of early bridge construction in northern Illinois. It is recognized for engineering, architecture and transportation. Local government and public subscription paid for its construction.
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 75000640, listed April 23, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2 mi. N of Princeton off IL 26 on Old Dad Joe Trail, Princeton |
|---|---|
| County | Bureau County |
| Listed | April 23, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75000640 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architect / builder | Bureau County (constructed by the county in 1863) |
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition and in use as a bridge on a public road; repairs were made in 1965, 1967, 1973 and 1974. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 41.41648, -89.47869 (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 75000640.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7303943
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.