Askew Bridge
Also known as: Soap and Whiskey Bridge
Why it's listed
Completed in 1857 in Reading, Pennsylvania, the Askew Bridge carries double tracks of the Pennsylvania and Reading Railroad over North 6th Street to the railway terminal. Richard Osborne designed it from local brownstone, and its main arch spans the street across forty feet. A smaller arch on each side spans the sidewalk. Each course of the arch is laid in an elliptical curve that follows the oblique angle at which the tracks cross the street, so the arch has no keystone. The bridge is regarded as the best example of a skew bridge in the United States. Its builders reportedly used a soap model during construction, which gave rise to the name Soap Bridge. The nickname Whiskey Bridge refers to the whiskey given to Irish workers as part of their pay. The structure remains in good repair and in use by the railroad.
Significance in brief: The nomination regards it as the best example of a skew bridge in the United States. Its arches are laid on elliptical courses that follow the oblique angle of the tracks to the street, and it has no keystone. It is also known as the Soap and Whiskey Bridge, names tied to its construction.
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 73001590, listed March 1, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | N. 6th St. near Woodward St., Reading |
|---|---|
| County | Berks County |
| Listed | March 1, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001590 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1857 |
| Architect / builder | Richard Osborne (designer) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In excellent repair and still in use by the Reading Railroad. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.34373, -75.92579 (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 73001590.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7534786
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.