Adams Covered Bridge
Also known as: San Toy Covered Bridge
Why it's listed
Adams Covered Bridge, also called San Toy Covered Bridge, carries County Road 16 over San Toy Creek in Union Township, roughly 10 miles west of Malta in Morgan County, Ohio. Local residents date it to 1875. The single-span wooden structure is 66 feet long including projecting portals, with a 12-foot roadway, vertical boarded siding, cut sandstone abutments and a tin roof. Its multiple kingpost truss was the most common wooden truss design in Ohio and became known as the Buckingham truss. Only about 135 of the state's timber truss bridges survive, and this is one of five covered bridges left in Morgan County and one of three still on its original site. The bridge once stood at the edge of the coal mining town of San Toy. It was closed to traffic in 1987. Maintenance in 1994 added steel supports and a new roof, but the original timber trusswork remains intact. Records do not name a builder, though the road's State designation suggests Ohio may have built it.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the bridge is significant under Criterion C for exemplifying the multiple kingpost truss, the most common wooden truss design in Ohio, later known as the Buckingham truss. It is one of five covered bridges left in Morgan County and one of only three on its original site. Its original timber trusswork remains intact despite 1994 maintenance.
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 99000093, listed February 5, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | San Toy Rd., Malta |
|---|---|
| County | Morgan County |
| Listed | February 5, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99000093 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1875 to 1948 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Other: Covered Bridge (multiple kingpost truss) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Closed to traffic in 1987; current function listed as not in use. Maintenance in 1994 added steel supports, new roof lath and a new tin roof. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.62437, -82.03262 (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 99000093.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4680334
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.