Old Stone Arch Bridge
Why it's listed
Carrying the old National Road over a small waterway east of Clark Center, Illinois, this limestone arch bridge has a span of 17.8 feet, a height of 8.9 feet and a length of 81½ feet. Its gray stones have a smooth exterior face and were set without mortar bond, with keys cut into them to prevent slippage. The stone was quarried in Indiana, floated down the Wabash River on a raft and hauled to the site by ox cart. Army Engineers built it between 1828 and 1837 as part of the road that ran from Cumberland, Maryland toward St. Louis. The bridge served traffic continuously until the road was relocated in 1933. Its builder is unknown. It is described as being in nearly original condition, with no noticeable weaknesses, and is now not in use. It was listed for its engineering quality, its long service and its status as one of the few surviving original features of the road in Illinois.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant for its longevity and continuous use, and as an excellent example of competent engineering and the reliability of masonry arch construction. It was built as part of the National Road by the Army Engineers and remained in use until the road was relocated in 1933. It is one of the few remaining vestiges of the original road 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 78001117, listed November 28, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | E of Clark Center off U.S. 40, Clark Center |
|---|---|
| County | Clark County |
| Listed | November 28, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78001117 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | Between 1828 and 1837 |
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Not being used presently; appears to be in original condition with little or no maintenance since construction. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.37024, -87.75808 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 78001117.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16896161
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.