Salt Creek Covered Bridge
Why it's listed
This covered bridge crosses Salt Creek in Perry Township, Muskingum County, Ohio, just south of county road 82. It is a single-span wooden structure built on the Warren truss plan, with eight panels, an 87-foot length, a 70-foot clear span and a 12-foot width. The trusses are oak, the siding is unpainted vertical pine, and the original crosswise flooring with raised runners survives. Research added in 1986 shows it was built in 1876 by Thomas Fisher for $8 per lineal foot, with stone abutments by Jesse Romine, and that it was then called Johnson's Mill Bridge. The county bypassed it in 1953, and a farmer used it to store machinery. A covered bridge association bought it in 1960, straightened it, repaired the siding and abutments, and replaced the shingle roof with metal sheets. The bridge was listed because the Warren truss is uncommon: only three remain in Ohio, and this is the last in Muskingum County.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the bridge is a fine example of the now rare Warren truss plan, of which only three remain in Ohio. It is the last such structure in Muskingum County. It also has a long record of preservation by a covered bridge association.
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 74001587, listed September 10, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 3 mi. NW of Norwich, Norwich |
|---|---|
| County | Muskingum County |
| Listed | September 10, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001587 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1870's (19th Century) |
| Architect / builder | Thomas Fisher (builder, per 1986 update); abutments by Jesse Romine. The original 1974 form says the builder is unknown. |
| Architectural style | Warren truss covered bridge |
| Areas of significance | Engineering |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good to excellent condition, repaired and maintained by its owner, the Southern Ohio Covered Bridge Association. It is barricaded against vehicles. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Muskingum River Navigation Historic District |
| Coordinates | 39.99876, -81.83978 (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 74001587.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q58904074
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.