Oquawka Wagon Bridge
Why it's listed
A covered wooden bridge spans Henderson Creek about 2.5 miles south of Oquawka, Illinois. Henderson County built it in 1866, hiring Jacob Allaman for the timber work at $2,125 and Frisby Sloan for the stone abutments. It replaced an earlier span known as the Eames Bridge, on land claimed by early settler James Ryason. The single span is a Burr arch truss about 104 feet long and 16 feet wide, made of hand-hewn native timber with horizontal wood siding and a wood shake roof. Repairs have been limited mainly to painting, siding and roof replacement, and one lower chord was reinforced with steel channels. After roughly 68 years of service, the bridge was given to the State of Illinois in 1935 when the road was moved and a new bridge was built 300 feet downstream. The state then bought 15.7 acres around it for a picnic area. It is one of only eight covered bridges remaining in Illinois.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the bridge is significant for transportation and architecture. It is one of eight remaining covered bridges in Illinois and looks virtually as it did when built. It served the community for about 68 years before the road was relocated.
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 75000660, listed February 24, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2.5 mi. S of Oquawka over Henderson Creek, Oquawka |
|---|---|
| County | Henderson County |
| Listed | February 24, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75000660 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (built 1866) |
| Architect / builder | Jacob Allaman (wood portion); Frisby Sloan (stone masonry abutments) |
| Architectural style | Covered Burr arch truss bridge |
| Areas of significance | Transportation |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Closed to traffic in 1935 and now in a state-owned picnic area restricted to pedestrians; in good condition with a broken diagonal member, some broken siding and a wood shake roof needing replacement. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 40.89417, -90.94929 (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 75000660.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7099157
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.