Fort Griffin Brazos River Bridge
Why it's listed
Crossing the Clear Fork of the Brazos River half a mile northeast of Fort Griffin, this 226-foot bridge was built in 1885 by the King Iron Bridge and Manufacturing Company of Cleveland, Ohio. It combines a 110-foot pin-connected Pratt through truss with plate girder approaches on each side, resting on 20-foot rock-faced limestone piers. The deck is made of wooden planks with steel runners, and the railings are made of pipe. Shackelford County commissioners compared bids from several firms before awarding the company an $8,050 contract in June 1885. A dispute over pier construction was settled when the builder posted an additional bond guaranteeing the work for two years. Repairs were made in the first decade, but no major alterations are recorded. The bridge remains in use for local traffic, with trucks prohibited. It is the oldest functioning bridge in the county, an example of period engineering by a prolific manufacturer, and a long-serving link in the Fort Griffin area.
Significance in brief: The bridge is presented as an excellent example of late nineteenth-century bridge building and the work of one of the most prolific bridge manufacturers in the United States. It is the oldest functioning bridge in Shackelford County and has served as a transportation facility for nearly a century. Its truss, masonry piers, wooden deck and tubular handrails also provide a unifying element in the historic setting of Fort Griffin.
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 79003006, listed October 16, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NE of Fort Griffin, Fort Griffin |
|---|---|
| County | Shackelford County |
| Listed | October 16, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79003006 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1885 |
| Architect / builder | King Iron Bridge and Manufacturing Co. |
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still carries local vehicular traffic; trucks are prohibited. Condition listed as good, with no significant alterations. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.93473, -99.22432 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
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 79003006.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107319236
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.