Rex Covered Bridge
Why it's listed
Rex's Covered Bridge is a Burr truss structure spanning Jordan Creek in North Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, between the communities of Kernsville and Weidasville. It was built in 1858 and is 150 feet long, with a roadway 16 feet 7 inches wide and a clearance of 10 feet 8 inches. The bridge has narrow horizontal siding, a gable roof and interior portal siding that resembles that of Wehr's bridge. Steel reinforcements were added to strengthen the structure. It is recognized as the longest surviving covered bridge in Lehigh County. Its listing reflects its value as an example of nineteenth-century wooden bridge technology, and it is one of several covered bridges of the Delaware River Watershed documented together. The county owns the bridge, which is reported to be in good condition.
Significance in brief: The document states the bridge is the longest remaining covered bridge in Lehigh County and is eligible as an example of wooden bridge technology of the 19th century. It is one of the covered bridges of the Delaware River Watershed listed as a multiple property group. The form notes that it has narrow horizontal siding, a gable roof and interior portal siding, and that steel reinforcements have been added.
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 80003560, listed December 1, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence low).
Key facts
| Address | S of Schencksville on T 593, North Whiteland Township, Orefield |
|---|---|
| County | Lehigh County |
| Listed | December 1, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003560 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Architectural style | Burr truss |
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition described as good. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 40.63483, -75.61264 (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 80003560.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7319173
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.