Lehman's, Port Royal Covered Bridge
Why it's listed
Built in 1888 across Licking Creek at Port Royal in Juniata County, Pennsylvania, this covered bridge carries a road with a surface about 15 feet 6 inches wide and has a double Burr arch truss, vertical siding, rectangular windows at eave level and a gable roof. Its two spans and 107-foot end posts make it unusual, since multi-span covered bridges of this length were often replaced early because of their load limits and rising traffic demands. The bridge was badly damaged by the Agnes Flood of 1972 and rebuilt using original timbers in the same style. It is listed as part of a group of covered bridges in Juniata and Snyder counties that together document a common type of rural bridge construction and the transportation networks it served in central Pennsylvania. Reviewers were less certain about how far the rebuilding preserved the original trusses, so its integrity was a point of discussion during review.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the bridge is significant as an example of a type of construction common in its period but now increasingly rare, particularly two-span covered bridges, which are described as very rare in Pennsylvania today. It is associated with the history of transportation in Pennsylvania and illustrates bridge network construction in rural areas of Juniata and Snyder counties. The reviewers noted that the rebuilding after the 1972 Agnes Flood raised questions about 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 79002248, listed August 10, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | SW of Port Royal, Port Royal |
|---|---|
| County | Juniata County |
| Listed | August 10, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002248 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Architectural style | Double Burr arch covered bridge |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Badly damaged during the Agnes Flood of 1972 and rebuilt using original timbers in the same style. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 40.52925, -77.39560 (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 79002248.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6518882
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.