Geiger Covered Bridge
Why it's listed
Built in 1860 over Jordan Creek in North Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, Geiger's Covered Bridge is a wooden structure with a burr arch truss, which combines an arch with a vertical truss system. It measures 112 feet between end posts, is 16 feet 2 inches wide, and offers 10 feet 8 inches of clearance. Its stone abutments support the timber superstructure, which is sheathed in siding. The portal is an unusual feature, with stepped, square planks framing an entryway that extends at least ten feet before the trussing begins. Steel reinforcements have been added over time to strengthen the span. The bridge is owned by Lehigh County. It is included in a group of historic covered bridges in the Delaware River watershed, and is regarded as a representative example of mid-nineteenth-century wooden bridge construction in the region.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the bridge as an example of 19th-century wooden bridge technology, and as one of the covered bridges in the Delaware River watershed included in a multiple-property thematic group. Its burr arch truss, stepped portal with square planks, and stone abutments are noted as distinguishing features. Steel reinforcements have been added to strengthen it.
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 80003558, listed December 1, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence low).
Key facts
| Address | SE of Schencksville on T 681, North Whiteland Township, Orefield |
|---|---|
| County | Lehigh County |
| Listed | December 1, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003558 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition recorded as good. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 40.64634, -75.61641 (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 80003558.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5530108
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.