Bridge in Gibson Borough
Why it's listed
A single-span stone slab bridge carries vehicular traffic over Tunkhannock Creek in Gibson Borough, Susquehanna County. The structure is built of dry, unmortared rubble stone, with a slab laid across stone supports that are corbelled inward. The span measures about 8 feet overall, and the nominated area covers the superstructure and substructure within the outside corners of the wing walls, measuring 58 feet long by 25 feet wide. The bridge is regarded as a rare surviving example of the stone slab or clapper bridge, the most primitive form of stone bridge. Because its corbelled supports form a primitive false arch, it is considered an important example of early bridge construction in Pennsylvania. Its significance lies in engineering. The construction date is not documented; state staff estimated it between 1775 and 1825, and the designer and builder are unknown.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the bridge is a rare surviving example of the stone slab or clapper bridge type, regarded as the most primitive form of stone bridge. Its corbelled supports could be classified as a primitive corbelled, or false, arch. It is presented as an important example of early bridge construction in Pennsylvania, with significance in the area of 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 88000839, listed June 22, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | LR 57045 over Tunkhannock Creek, South Gibson |
|---|---|
| County | Susquehanna County |
| Listed | June 22, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88000839 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Areas of significance | Engineering |
| Level of significance | State |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.74216, -75.63051 (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 88000839.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4966357
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.