Old Alton Bridge
Also known as: Copper Canyon Road Bridge
Why it's listed
Carrying Copper Canyon Road across Hickory Creek in rural Denton County, this iron bridge is a Pratt through-truss structure about 145 feet long. A six-panel main span of 108 feet is flanked by two secondary spans of I-beams, and the 14-foot timber deck sits on paired masonry-filled iron caissons. Denton County's Commissioners' Court approved financing in August 1884 and confirmed final inspection that September. The crossing lay on the main Denton to Dallas road near Alton, the former county seat, and officials hoped it would revive the fading community, though it did not. The bridge appears to have been built from a kit supplied by the King Iron Bridge and Manufacturing Company of Cleveland, a major supplier to Texas. It is regarded as one of the oldest surviving examples of its type in the state, retains its design integrity, and is a source of local pride. Local citizens have sought to preserve it for trail use.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is one of the oldest surviving Pratt through-truss bridges in Texas and one of the earliest still functional in north central Texas. It served as a link on the main Denton to Dallas road and was supplied by a major bridge manufacturer. It retains its design integrity with only minor modifications.
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 88000979, listed July 8, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Copper Canyon Rd., Copper Canyon |
|---|---|
| County | Denton County |
| Listed | July 8, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88000979 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1884 |
| Architect / builder | King Iron & Bridge Manufacturing Company |
| Architectural style | Pratt through-truss bridge |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in fair condition with minor modifications over the last century; the structure was reported to be in danger of replacement, and citizens hoped to incorporate it into a bridle path and pedestrian trail. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 33.12933, -97.10402 (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 88000979.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7083385
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.