Hillsgrove Covered Bridge
Why it's listed
Built circa 1850, the Hillsgrove Covered Bridge spans Loyalsock Creek about three miles east of Hillsgrove in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania. It is a single-span wooden structure 171 feet long and about 17.9 feet wide, built in the arch truss manner associated with Theodore Burr. A curved arch is anchored into the adjoining stone piers and supports upper and lower horizontal chords that carry the floor and roof, with multiple king posts between them. The sides are covered with rough-hewn siding. Its builders' design is the basis of its importance. The roadway is reported to be wider and longer than any other single-span covered bridge in Pennsylvania. It is also one of the few wooden covered bridges in the state that survived long use, neglect and arson. Later alterations include steel supports added to correct sagging, repointed abutments, and replacement siding and roofing.
Significance in brief: The bridge is built in the arch truss manner associated with Theodore Burr, whose design is described as a curved arch anchored to the piers with chords and king posts. The nomination states that it is wider and longer than any other single-span covered bridge in Pennsylvania and that it is one of the few wooden covered bridges in the state that have survived neglect and arson.
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 73001666, listed July 2, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 3 mi. E of Hillsgrove off PA 87 over Loyalsock Creek, Hillsgrove |
|---|---|
| County | Sullivan County |
| Listed | July 2, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001666 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | circa 1850 |
| Areas of significance | Transportation |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Structurally altered with steel supports added to correct sagging, repointed stone abutments, and new siding and roofing replacing deteriorated originals; condition rated fair. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 41.46090, -76.67108 (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 73001666.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q11330322
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.