Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Bridge
Also known as: State Street Bridge
_HAER_color.jpg){kind=link}
Why it's listed
Carrying State Street across a rail spur and creek into the Capitol Plaza in Harrisburg, the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Bridge was built as a memorial to the men who fought in World War I. Work began in 1926 and the structure was completed in 1930. Designed by the John E. Greiner Company, engineers, with the architects Gehron and Ross, it consists of seventeen reinforced concrete segmental arches on concrete piers faced with granite and limestone, extending 1,312 feet. The arches are scored to imitate stone. Its massive, fortress-like concrete mass and 300-foot obelisks evoke the military theme of the memorial. Decorative military details run throughout the bridge, most notably the arch keystones, each shaped as a different military object. The bridge is regarded as an excellent example of a long-span monumental urban bridge, and its engineering and design place it among notable structures of its type.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the bridge is an excellent example of a long-span monumental urban bridge, built as a memorial to the men who fought in World War I. Its fortress-like massive concrete form, 300-foot obelisks and military-themed decorative details, including keystones shaped as different military objects, express the memorial subject. The nomination places its significance in 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 88000761, 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 140/State St. over LR 130 Spur and Paxton Creek, Harrisburg |
|---|---|
| County | Dauphin County |
| Listed | June 22, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88000761 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1926-1930 |
| Architect / builder | John E. Greiner Company (engineers); Gehron and Ross (architects) |
| Areas of significance | Engineering |
| Level of significance | State |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 40.26732, -76.87831 (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 88000761.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q2333664
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.