State Highway 53 Bridge at the Leon River
Also known as: FM 817 Br. at the Leon R.; Bl0015-05-060
Why it's listed
Carrying FM 817 across the Leon River northeast of Belton, this 412-foot steel bridge combines a single 200-foot riveted Parker through truss with four steel I-beam approach spans. Texas Highway Department engineers designed it specially to replace a 1907 county bridge that had a narrow 17-foot roadway, sharp end curves and a 10-ton load limit. The Austin Bridge Company built the new crossing between 1938 and 1939 for about $98,000, and Mosher Steel Company fabricated the truss. Arched concrete bents, concrete piers with beveled copings and a 5-foot pedestrian walkway with decorative steel picket railing reflect an effort to improve bridge aesthetics near urban areas. Only three surviving department truss bridges have this type of railing. When Interstate 35 and a realigned highway drew traffic away, the bridge stayed in place for local use. It has had no major alterations and is recognized for its engineering significance at the state level.
Significance in brief: The bridge is significant under Criterion C in the area of Engineering at the state level. It embodies the defining characteristics of a Parker through truss designed by the Texas Highway Department. It has a custom-designed 200-foot riveted truss span and an elaborate decorative steel railing on its pedestrian walkway, one of only three surviving Texas Highway Department truss bridges with this type of railing.
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 96001119, listed October 10, 1996. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | FM 817, 2.5 mi. E of jct. with FM 93, Belton |
|---|---|
| County | Bell County |
| Listed | October 10, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96001119 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1938-1939 |
| Architect / builder | Bridge Designer: Texas Highway Department; Truss Fabricator: Mosher Steel Company of Houston, Texas, owned by the Mosher Steel & Machinery Company of Dallas, Texas; Bridge Builder: Austin Bridge Company of Dallas, Texas |
| Architectural style | Other: Parker through truss bridge |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use for vehicular traffic as FM 817; no major alterations have been made and it retains integrity of design, materials and workmanship. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 31.06632, -97.44255 (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 96001119.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001565
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.