Glessner Bridge
Why it's listed
Covered bridge over Stony Creek about two miles northwest of Shanksville, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, built in 1881 by Tobias Glessner. It carries a timber road surface on a multiple king-post truss, with an end post length of 90 feet and a width of 12 feet. The roof is a timber gable covering the full span, and its vertical plank siding reaches only halfway up the side walls, while the portals have vertical planked inner walls. The bridge is one of the group of covered bridges in Somerset County that were grouped together for recognition as a thematic set. Its structure, with the king-post truss and sheltering roof, represents the wooden bridge-building methods used in the county in the late nineteenth century. The bridge is recorded as being in good condition, with a load limit of 3 tons and a clearance of 11 feet.
Significance in brief: The form describes it as a long multiple king-post truss bridge with a timber covered gable roof, vertical plank siding reaching only halfway up the side walls, and portals with vertical planked inside walls. The bridge is recorded as built in 1881 by Tobias Glessner and is in good condition.
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 80003631, listed December 10, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence low).
Key facts
| Address | NW of Shanksville off LR, 55068, Stonycreek Township, Shanksville |
|---|---|
| County | Somerset County |
| Listed | December 10, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003631 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Architect / builder | Tobias Glessner |
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition recorded as good |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 40.02605, -78.92083 (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 80003631.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5569506
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.