Shenk's Mill Covered Bridge
Also known as: Schenk's Covered Bridge
Why it's listed
Shenk's Mill Covered Bridge is a burr truss covered bridge that spans Chickies Creek on township road T372, linking East Hempfield and Rapho Townships near Manheim in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Built in 1855, the bridge measures 96 feet from end post to end post and is 15 feet wide. Its horizontal clapboard siding is unusual in Lancaster County, and the structure is noted for its four small rectangular windows fitted with awnings on the east bank end. Covered bridges of this period were built in wood frame construction, and this example is recorded as being in excellent condition. It was nominated as part of a group of surviving covered bridges in Lancaster County that reflect 19th-century timber bridge building in the region.
Significance in brief: The nomination describes the bridge as being in excellent condition and notes that its horizontal clapboard siding is unusual in Lancaster County. It is one of the covered bridges in Lancaster County considered as part of a multiple property group of wood-frame covered bridges from the 19th century.
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 80003531, listed December 10, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence low).
Key facts
| Address | S of Manheim on T 372, East Hempfield/Rapho Townships, Manheim |
|---|---|
| County | Lancaster County |
| Listed | December 10, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003531 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Excellent condition |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 40.11577, -76.42518 (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 80003531.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7431141
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.