AuSable Chasm Bridge
Also known as: Bin #1-07130-0
Why it's listed
Spanning the AuSable River gorge near the hamlet of AuSable Chasm, this bridge carries NYS Route 9 on a 222-foot steel arch main span, flanked by two 52-foot concrete approach spans faced in native stone. The overall length is 526 feet. State engineers and architects designed it, Burr M. Stark of Hadley won the construction contract with a bid of $63,323, and work ran from 1932 to 1934. It replaced an older route that wound through the hamlet and crossed on the one-lane, light-load Old State Road Bridge. Sandstone and granite on the abutments, railings and retaining walls help it blend with the gorge and nearby stone buildings. The bridge is listed for its engineering and design, as an intact example of 1930s highway bridge construction, and for its links to tourism at AuSable Chasm and to north-south travel through the region. Work around 1990 included repainting the steel and repointing the stonework.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the bridge is an intact, well-designed example of WPA-era highway bridge engineering, deliberately styled with local stone to blend with the gorge setting. It is also tied to the growth of Adirondack tourism around AuSable Chasm and to the history of Route 9 as a major north-south route.
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 99001320, listed November 12, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NY 9 over AuSable R., AuSable |
|---|---|
| County | Clinton County |
| Listed | November 12, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99001320 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1933-1948 |
| Architect / builder | C.C. MacCloskey (engineer); Burr M. Stark (builder); New York State Dept. of Public Works (architect/engineer) |
| Architectural style | OTHER: Steel Arch Bridge |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Entertainment/Recreation, Engineering, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as well maintained by the state and recently restored (painting and repointing), retaining much of its original appearance and integrity. It still carries NYS Route 9. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 44.52480, -73.46297 (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 99001320.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4818933
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.