Tunkhannock Viaduct
Also known as: Nicholson Viaduct
Why it's listed
Spanning Tunkhannock Creek near Nicholson in Wyoming County, Pennsylvania, this reinforced concrete railroad viaduct was built between 1912 and 1915 for the Lackawanna Railroad. It formed the centrepiece of a 39.6 mile cutoff between Clarks Summit and Halstead, part of a broader upgrade of the railroad's main line. The bridge is 2,375 feet long and rises 240 feet above the creek. Ten main semicircular arches of 180 feet span carry the deck, flanked by two 100-foot arches buried in the fill at either end. Each arch has two ribs, and the concrete was cast on steel falsework supported by an overhead cableway, whose centre tower reached 300 feet. Engineer Abraham Burton Cohen designed it. When completed it was the largest concrete structure in the world. The nomination regards it as a definitive example of its type, admired by critics and writers, and it is a longstanding landmark for the community.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the viaduct was, when built, the largest concrete structure in the world and a pioneering example of reinforced concrete bridge construction of its size. It is described as an exemplar of its type and one of the most beautiful concrete bridges in America. Its arches and scale are presented as a landmark of early twentieth-century railroad modernization.
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 77001203, listed April 11, 1977. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 0.5 mi. E of Nicholson at Tunkhannock Creek, Nicholson |
|---|---|
| County | Wyoming County |
| Listed | April 11, 1977 |
| Reference number | 77001203 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | A.B. Cohen (engineer, Abraham Burton Cohen) |
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Coordinates | 41.62318, -75.77663 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 77001203.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7853242
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.