Gilbert Bridge
Also known as: Hall Estate Bridge
Why it's listed
Built in 1899 by the Wrought Iron Bridge Company of Canton, Ohio, the Gilbert Bridge crosses Yellow Breeches Creek between Cumberland and York counties in Pennsylvania. It is a single-lane, 102-foot simple-span Pratt through truss with pin-connected steel eye-bars and laced compression members, resting on coursed rubble limestone abutments. Before it was built, residents, farms, mills and businesses in the area had to ford the creek, which was often impassable depending on the weather. The bridge quickly became essential to the local road network and has remained in service for nearly ninety years. Its construction method, pin-connected eye-bar trusses, was common for moderate-span metal bridges of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The bridge is considered a well-preserved example of that engineering in its local area. Its steel is in relatively good condition, and the surrounding rural setting remains largely as it was when the bridge was new. The deck and stringers were replaced in 1955.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the bridge has been an essential local transportation link since 1899, replacing the hazards of fording the creek. It describes the pin-connected eye-bar and laced-member Pratt truss as engineering typical of moderate-span metal truss bridges of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and says it is a well-preserved local example of that type, retaining excellent historic integrity.
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 89000355, listed May 5, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Bishop Rd./Gilbert Rd. over Yellow Breeches Creek, Grantham |
|---|---|
| County | Cumberland County |
| Listed | May 5, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000355 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1899 |
| Architect / builder | Wrought Iron Bridge Company, Canton, Ohio (builder) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Presently posted for a 10-ton weight limit and carrying about 65 vehicles a day; the deck and stringers were replaced in 1955. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.15365, -76.98213 (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 89000355.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15221681
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.