Bridge in Lykens Township No. 1
Why it's listed
A multi-span stone bridge with three arches crosses Pine Creek in Lykens Township, near Erdman in Dauphin County. The structure has a central span of 34 feet and a secondary span of 33 feet, with a total length of 127 feet and a width of about 25 feet. Its arches are built of coursed rubble stone, and the voussoirs are precisely laid, giving the masonry a notable level of craftsmanship. The bridge is listed for its engineering quality. Its high rise and moderately low spans are regarded as among the most gracefully designed and executed multi-span bridges in south central Pennsylvania. Concrete reinforcement has been added to the center pier and to the inner face of one parapet, and the wall on the west side was replaced with concrete. Even with these changes, the nomination treats the bridge's integrity as high. The construction date is given as approximately 1850 to 1875, based on information from state staff rather than the bridge itself.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the bridge is significant for its engineering, with precisely laid coursed rubble voussoirs contributing to its engineering quality. It is described as one of the most gracefully designed and executed multi-span bridges in south central Pennsylvania. Its integrity is described as high despite concrete reinforcement of the center pier and the inner surface of one parapet.
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 88000773, 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 22001 over Pine Creek, Edman |
|---|---|
| County | Dauphin County |
| Listed | June 22, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88000773 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Areas of significance | Engineering |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vehicular use; the form describes the bridge as altered with a concrete pier, concrete parapet and concrete reinforcement. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.64395, -76.69252 (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 88000773.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4966364
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.