Pennsylvania Railroad Bridge over Shavers Creek
Also known as: Conrail Bridge over Shavers Creek
Why it's listed
Built in 1889 by the Pennsylvania Railroad, this 134-foot cut stone bridge has three semi-circular arches and carries the two-track line over Shavers Creek near its junction with the Juniata River at Petersburg, Huntingdon County. Its faces are coursed, unfinished stone, and the undersides of the arches have step-like ribbing for support. Metal brackets supporting curbing on the south face and metal safety railings on the deck were added later, with the brackets likely dating to repairs made in 1967. Records show six stone-arch railroad bridges were built in the county between 1886 and 1889, suggesting the railroad was replacing earlier iron bridges with heavier masonry. It is regarded as a good example of a nineteenth-century multiple-span stone arch bridge, and its integrity is considered sufficient to convey that significance. It is the only stone-arch railroad bridge in the county still in use that has not received concrete supports on its face.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the bridge is significant under Criterion A for its association with local transportation in Huntingdon County, and under Criterion C as a fine example of a stone-arch bridge. It is described as a good example of a nineteenth-century multiple-span stone arch bridge built by the Pennsylvania Railroad, representing the second phase of the railroad's bridge construction. It is evaluated on a local level.
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 90000395, listed March 20, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Over Shavers Creek near confluence with Juniata River, Petersburg |
|---|---|
| County | Huntingdon County |
| Listed | March 20, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000395 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1889-1939 |
| Architect / builder | Pennsylvania Railroad |
| Architectural style | Other: stone arch bridge |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use; most recent major repairs were made in 1967. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.56704, -78.04807 (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 90000395.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15265914
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.