Third St. Bridge
Also known as: 090-9912; Municipal Street MS 2800
Why it's listed
Third Street Bridge carries Third Street over two sets of railroad tracks in Delavan, Illinois. Its main span is a 62-foot, six-inch metal pony truss of the quadrangular double-intersection Warren lattice type, with eight panels, riveted connections and wrought iron chords. A short timber approach span and a metal lattice pier support the east end. The truss was built between 1870 and 1881 to carry trains and was moved to Delavan in 1907, when it was converted for vehicles and pedestrians. A name plate reading Kellogg Bridge Co., Buffalo, N.Y., led the state bridge survey to rate it the oldest known metal truss bridge in Illinois. It is the only example of its type known in Tazewell County and one of two in the state. The truss remains sound, though the floor beams, stringers and timber deck are in poor condition. The form lists the bridge as vacant and not in use.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as the only known double-intersection Warren lattice truss in Tazewell County and one of two known in Illinois. A name plate evidence led the Illinois Historic Bridge Survey to identify it as the oldest known metal truss bridge in the state. It also reflects the local railroad history that created the need for a Third Street crossing.
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 99000586, listed May 20, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Third St., bet. Pine and Elm Sts., Delavan |
|---|---|
| County | Tazewell County |
| Listed | May 20, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99000586 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Architect / builder | Kellogg Bridge Co., Buffalo, N.Y. (from name plate) |
| Architectural style | Double intersection Warren pony truss |
| Areas of significance | Engineering |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed current function is vacant / not in use. The truss is described as fundamentally sound, while the floor beams, stringers and deck are in poor condition and need replacement. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.37354, -89.54440 (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 99000586.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q24435829
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.