Lindbergh Viaduct
Why it's listed
Lindbergh Viaduct is a concrete open-spandrel arch bridge in City Park in Reading, Berks County, carrying US 422 over Mineral Spring Creek. Built in 1927 by the contractor Whittaker & Diehl, it is 866 feet long and carried on thirteen arches, five of them measuring 83 feet and the rest 42 feet. Those spans were short for a concrete bridge of its period. Its significance rests on its engineering: the arches are skewed rather than set square to the crossing, and each rests on three wide ribs. The ornamental piers are capped with light posts whose detailing varies to suit the skew. The nomination counts it as one of fifteen open-spandrel arch bridges in the group, and one of only two that are skewed, which made the design more demanding than a straight bridge. Sidewalks and parapets have since been replaced, and the structure is recorded as altered.
Significance in brief: The nomination describes it as an unusual example of an open-spandrel concrete arch bridge, notable for its configuration and ornamentation. Its thirteen arches are skewed rather than straight, with three wide ribs per arch, and its ornamental piers are capped by matching light posts. The form notes it is one of fifteen open-spandrel arch bridges in the nomination and one of two skewed examples, representing the additional engineering needed for a skewed design. It is significant under engineering.
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 88000792, listed June 22, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | US 422/Mineral Spring Rd. over Mineral Spring Creek, Reading |
|---|---|
| County | Berks County |
| Listed | June 22, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88000792 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1927 |
| Architect / builder | Whittaker & Diehl (builder/contractor); designer/engineer unknown |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Sidewalks and parapets have been replaced; the form marks the structure as altered. |
| Acreage | 1.3 |
| Coordinates | 40.33133, -75.89972 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 88000792.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6552177
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.