Knapp's Covered Bridge
Why it's listed
Burlington Township in Bradford County holds a 95-foot Burr arch truss bridge completed in 1853 over Brown's Creek, also known as Luther's Mills Covered Bridge. The structure is 14 feet wide and clad in vertical plank siding that reaches only to the middle of the sidewalls, a treatment similar to that of Bedford County bridges. Its deck sits more than 30 feet above the creek, placing it among the highest covered bridges in Pennsylvania. It is the only covered bridge remaining in Bradford County, making it the county's sole surviving example of the type. Repairs in 1963 renewed its flooring, roof and abutments, and its condition is excellent owing to consistent upkeep. Its importance rests on its age, its height above the water, and its rarity as the last covered crossing in the county. Because it stands alone, its regional characteristics are difficult to judge against comparable structures nearby.
Significance in brief: It is the only covered bridge left in Bradford County, which makes it the county's sole surviving example of its type. It is one of the highest covered bridges in Pennsylvania, with the drop from the bridge to the water exceeding 30 feet. Its vertical plank siding, which covers only the middle of the sidewalls, is similar to that of Bedford County bridges.
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 80003428, listed July 24, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence low).
Key facts
| Address | E of Burlington on T 554, Burlington Township, Burlington |
|---|---|
| County | Bradford County |
| Listed | July 24, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003428 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Architectural style | Burr arch truss |
| Areas of significance | Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Excellent condition; flooring, roof and abutments were repaired in 1963. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 41.78599, -76.55325 (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 80003428.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6421736
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.