Wilmington Bridge
Also known as: Bin #1-03275-0
Why it's listed
Wilmington Bridge carries NYS Route 86 across the West Branch of the AuSable River in the center of the Adirondack hamlet of Wilmington. Built in 1934-35 by C. L. Smith, Inc. for $70,375, it has two 70-foot reinforced concrete arch spans faced with local granite, with a 24-foot roadway and concrete sidewalks. The New York State Department of Public Works designed it alongside the Whiteface Mountain Memorial Highway, using the same rough-hewn granite so both would blend with the rugged scenery. It replaced an older iron truss bridge that could not handle the traffic expected from growing tourism, and it became the gateway to the highway. The bridge is valued as an intact example of WPA-era highway design and as a marker of the region's move from industry to tourism. Apart from replaced sidewalks, it keeps its original appearance and remains in reasonably good condition.
Significance in brief: The bridge is presented as a distinguished, intact example of WPA-era highway bridge engineering and design, built with local granite to blend with its mountain setting. It reflects the shift of the Adirondack economy toward tourism and served as the gateway to the Whiteface Mountain Memorial Highway. It is also tied to the twentieth-century transportation history of Route 86.
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 99001324, 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 86 over AuSable R., Wilmington |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | November 12, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99001324 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1934-1948 |
| Architect / builder | Architect/Engineer: New York State Dept. of Public Works; Builder: C.L. Smith, Inc. |
| Architectural style | OTHER: Stone-faced, concrete arched bridge |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Entertainment/Recreation, Engineering, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Retains its original appearance and integrity and is in reasonably good condition; only the original bluestone sidewalks were replaced with concrete. Still carries NYS Route 86. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 44.38899, -73.81729 (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 99001324.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8022748
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.