O'Shaughnessy Dam and Bridge
Why it's listed
Spanning the Scioto River at Shawnee Hills, this dam and bridge were built between 1922 and 1925 to expand the water supply of Columbus. The masonry dam is 879 feet long, with earth approaches bringing the total to 1,750 feet. A twelve-span reinforced concrete arch bridge carries a brick-paved roadway and limestone-balustraded sidewalks over the spillway. An outlet gate-house, a power gate-house and an observation pavilion, all with red tile roofs and dressed limestone, give the structure a symmetrical, Neo-Classical appearance. The bridge replaced a steel truss crossing at Powell Road that the new reservoir would have flooded. Architect Frank L. Packard designed it, and Thompson-Starrett Company built it. It was named for Jerry O'Shaughnessy, long-serving superintendent of the city water works. The structure was listed for its role in the city's water works improvements and for its architecture, and it is the only historic bridge and dam combination of its kind on the Scioto River in the Columbus area.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues significance under Criteria A and C. It was the centerpiece of Columbus's second five-year water works improvement program in the 1920s and is a Neo-Classical design with Second Renaissance Revival influence by architect Frank L. Packard. It is the only documented bridge by Packard and the only historic combined bridge and dam of its kind on the Scioto River in the Columbus area.
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 90000482, listed July 5, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Co. Rd. 126 between OH 257 and 745, Shawnee Hills |
|---|---|
| County | Delaware County |
| Listed | July 5, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000482 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1922-1925 |
| Architect / builder | Frank L. Packard, Architect; Thompson-Starrett Company, Builder |
| Architectural style | Neo-Classical; Second Renaissance Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The form states the structure retains integrity and its architectural features remain intact. Current functions are listed as waterworks and road- and pedestrian-related transportation. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Coordinates | 40.15380, -83.13708 (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 90000482.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7071957
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.