Hogback Bridge
Also known as: Porter Bridge
Why it's listed
Built in 1893 over the West Branch of the Susquehanna River near Curwensville, Clearfield County, Hogback Bridge is a single 215-foot span of the Pennsylvania truss type, a pin-connected pony truss with a full-slope half-hip profile and steel eyebars. It was fabricated by the King Bridge Company of Cleveland, Ohio, which was known as King Iron Bridge and Manufacturing Company from 1871 to 1893 and built bridges into the early twentieth century. The bridge is regarded as a very well preserved example of a design that was widely used in Pennsylvania. It is also notable as the work of a leading American maker of metal truss bridges. The structure carries vehicular traffic on a steel superstructure resting on stone abutments and wing walls. Its nomination is part of a group of eight Pennsylvania truss bridges owned by the state transportation department, recognized for both their engineering character and their manufacturer.
Significance in brief: The nomination describes the bridge as an intact, very well preserved example of a commonly used Pennsylvania truss design. It also presents the bridge as an example of the work of a leading nineteenth-century manufacturer of metal truss bridges. It is one of eight Pennsylvania truss bridges included in a multiple-resource nomination, and its significance is placed in the area of 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 88000848, listed June 22, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | LR 869 over W branch of Susquehanna River, Curwensville |
|---|---|
| County | Clearfield County |
| Listed | June 22, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88000848 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1893 |
| Architect / builder | King Bridge Company (Cleveland, Ohio), bridge manufacturer |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering |
| Level of significance | State |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.97359, -78.49039 (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 88000848.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5877139
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.