Broadway Bridge
Why it's listed
Broadway Bridge carries Broadway across Greenville Creek in Greenville, Ohio, roughly two blocks from the public square. Built of concrete and opened in 1909, it uses a three-hinged arch design, with hinges at the crown and at each springing line. It is 138 feet long with a 120 foot span. Engineers Walter Rice and Albert W. Zesiger designed it, and A.J. Yawger of Bucyrus built it. The three-hinged form came from Germany and was chosen here partly because of soft, spring-undermined ground at the site. The experimental design, its length and the use of concrete drew lawsuits and political controversy that delayed construction. The nomination describes it as one of only a few non-reinforced three-hinged concrete bridges built in the United States and probably the only one still open to traffic. Its decorative railings and balusters also show the City Beautiful Movement's influence on small towns. A recent rehabilitation replicated the original limestone railings.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the bridge is an early example of American experimentation with European concrete bridge design and one of only a few non-reinforced, three-hinged concrete bridges built in the United States. It is probably the only remaining bridge of its type open to traffic, and its arch span was the longest of those built. It also reflects City Beautiful Movement civic improvements in small and mid-sized towns.
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 96000114, listed February 22, 1996. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Broadway over Greenville Cr., Greenville |
|---|---|
| County | Darke County |
| Listed | February 22, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96000114 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1909-1945 |
| Architect / builder | Walter Rice, Albert W. Zesiger, Designers-Engineers; Builder A.J. Yawger |
| Architectural style | Other: Three-hinged arch |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Recently underwent a one million dollar rehabilitation that repaired the arch barrel, replaced the deck and support members, and replicated the original limestone railings; still carries vehicular traffic. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.10431, -84.63476 (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 96000114.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16974182
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.