Chain Bridge
Also known as: Lehigh Canal Swinging Bridge; Wire Towing Path at Pool No. 8
Why it's listed
Spanning the Lehigh River at Easton, Pennsylvania, the Chain or Change Bridge was built in 1856 and 1857 by the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company. Its engineer, E.A. Douglas, of the same company, completed it for $3,613.24. The structure rests on three stone piers, the central one about forty feet across at water level and shaped on its upstream face to break ice, with two spans suspended from stranded cable of roughly three inches in diameter. The cable was made on site and is believed to have been produced by the Roebling Company, builders of several suspension bridges. The bridge carried mules and people across the river at the point where the Lehigh Canal changed banks, and it allowed animals to tow boats and barges. It replaced an earlier crossing nearer a dam, where currents were stronger. It is regarded as an early example of stranded cable bridge construction and a practical engineering answer to a canal-era need. Its surviving piers and cable are linked to the Lehigh Valley's transport network and its coal trade.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the bridge was an integral part of the Lehigh Canal system, carrying mules and people across the river where the canal crossed from one bank to the other. It is presented as a fine early example of stranded cable bridge construction and a unique civil engineering solution to a canal-era problem. Its role in opening the Lehigh Valley to outside development and in coal transport is also cited.
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 74001798, listed February 12, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | SW of Glendon on Hugh Moore Pkwy. across the Lehigh River, Easton |
|---|---|
| County | Northampton County |
| Listed | February 12, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001798 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1856-1857 |
| Architect / builder | E.A. Douglas (engineer), Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company (builder) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Deteriorated; the road surface was removed from the piers in the 1950s; the bridge is owned by the City of Easton and administered under the Hugh Moore Parkway, with plans for restoration. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Coordinates | 40.65385, -75.24849 (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 74001798.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5067861
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.