Caledonia Bowstring Bridge
Why it's listed
This 104-foot wrought iron bridge, built in 1873 by the Wrought Iron Bridge Company of Canton, Ohio, is a bowstring arch-truss. Its arches use Phoenix-type columns riveted from four flanged segments, with lattice girders providing lateral bracing and a wooden deck carried on floor beams. The design, called the Column and Channel Arch Bridge, was patented in 1873 by David Hammond, Job Abbott and Michael Adler, all employees of the company. The firm grew into one of the nation's leading metal bridge fabricators and promoted wrought iron over wood and cast iron. The bridge first crossed the Scioto River in Marion County. After it was closed to traffic because it could not meet modern load capacities, the county engineer's office moved it to Caledonia in 1976. It now rests on concrete piers and steel I-beams over the Olentangy River, where the village planned to use it as a park entrance. It was recognized for its rare type and engineering importance.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the bridge represents an important segment of engineering history in Ohio and the Midwest because of its rare metal bowstring arch-truss type and its fabrication by the Wrought Iron Bridge Company. Its "Column and Channel Arch Bridge" design was patented in 1873 by company employees. Reviewers noted that although it has been moved, it retains integrity of design and will serve as a park entrance.
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 78002131, listed May 23, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | N of Caledonia, Caledonia |
|---|---|
| County | Marion County |
| Listed | May 23, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002131 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Wrought Iron Bridge Company |
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Moved in 1976 by the county engineer's office from its original site over the Scioto River; the deck had not yet been completely replaced and the county's modern steel guardrails were removed. The village planned to use it as the entrance to a community park. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.64266, -82.96540 (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 78002131.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5019370
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.