Perkiomen Bridge
Why it's listed
Ridge Pike crosses Perkiomen Creek in the Borough of Collegeville, Montgomery County, on a stone arch bridge completed in 1798 or 1799, according to a decorative plaque set in its parapet wall. The bridge was designed by John Lewes and built by masons John Pugh, Samuel Beard and John Burk. It is 350 feet long, and its main arch spans 76 feet, lengths that the nomination describes as unusual for a bridge of its date. Belt courses and decorative piers further distinguish its masonry. The structure was widened in 1928, with extensions added to the piers on both sides and a sidewalk on one side. Its significance rests on its engineering, as an example of long-span stone highway construction from the late eighteenth century. The bridge carries vehicles today and remains in use across the creek beside the Colonial Period Inn.
Significance in brief: The nomination describes the bridge as an excellent example of a long-span eighteenth-century stone highway bridge. Its overall length of 350 feet and its main arch span of 76 feet are described as unusual, and its belt courses and decorative piers add to its distinctiveness. The area of significance is engineering.
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 88000826, listed June 22, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Ridge Pike over Perkiomen Creek, Collegeville |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | June 22, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88000826 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Architect / builder | John Lewes (architect); John Pugh, Samuel Beard and John Burk (masons) |
| Areas of significance | Engineering |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Widened in 1928; vehicular use continues from the original. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.18423, -75.44787 (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 88000826.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7169080
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.