Colorado River Bridge
Also known as: Site No. 649
Why it's listed
Spanning the Colorado River on South Richmond Road in Wharton, Texas, this 1930 highway bridge combines two Camelback Parker-through steel truss sections, each of eight panels, with short concrete approaches that have concrete curbs and precast guard rails. Large concrete pylons support it, the biggest near the middle of the river. The Austin Bridge Company built it under a Texas Highway Department contract awarded in 1929, and the company later used a rendering of the bridge on its checks. It replaced an 1893 iron bridge a few blocks west. The river had long limited Wharton's trade to the south, and the crossing allowed vehicles to reach the town as travel moved from rail to cars and trucks. It was recognized for its role in transportation and community development, and it remains a prominent landmark, perhaps the tallest structure in town. It still carries the north-south lane of U.S. 59.
Significance in brief: The bridge is significant under Criterion A in the area of transportation. It opened Wharton to vehicular traffic as the town shifted from rail to auto and truck access. It is one of two historic bridges remaining over the Colorado River at Wharton and is a major visual landmark.
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 93000117, listed March 18, 1993. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | S. Richmond Rd. (Old US 59) across the Colorado R., Wharton |
|---|---|
| County | Wharton County |
| Listed | March 18, 1993 |
| Reference number | 93000117 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1930-1942 |
| Architect / builder | Austin Bridge Company |
| Architectural style | OTHER: Parker-through Truss |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Remains in use as the north-south lane of U.S. 59; trusses are in good condition while the concrete approaches vary in quality. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.30865, -96.10380 (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 93000117.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002549
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.