Beaver Creek Bridge
Also known as: FM 2326 Bridge at Beaver Creek; Wc2215-02-002
Why it's listed
Carrying FM 2326 across Beaver Creek in southwestern Wichita County, this bridge consists of three 60-foot steel Warren pony truss spans and one concrete girder approach span, 219 feet in all. Wichita County contracted with the Austin Bridge Company in August 1925, and the bridge was finished in 1926. The county engineer chose Texas Highway Department standard design T8-60, probably because the road, which served the oil fields, needed a sturdy structure for heavy drilling equipment. Only three T8-60 trusses survive. This one is unusual because its truss is only 6 feet tall, so nearly half of it sits below the roadway, giving the bridge a distinctive low profile. It shows how state standards shaped bridges built with purely local funds in the 1920s. The road was upgraded and designated FM 2326 in 1956, and the bridge passed to state ownership without major alteration. It retains its original design, materials and setting, and remains in use.
Significance in brief: The bridge is significant under Criterion C in the area of Engineering at the state level. It is a locally built bridge that follows Texas Highway Department standard design T8-60, showing the department's influence on local bridge practices. It is also one of only three surviving T8-60 trusses and has an unusually low 6-foot truss.
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 96001104, 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 2326, 1 mi W of jct. with TX 25, Electra |
|---|---|
| County | Wichita County |
| Listed | October 10, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96001104 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1925-1926 |
| Architect / builder | Bridge Designer: Texas Highway Department; Truss Fabricator and Bridge Builder: Austin Bridge Company of Dallas, Texas |
| Architectural style | Other: Warren pony truss bridge |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in vehicular use on FM 2326; owned by the state. The form says no major repairs have been made and no projects are currently planned. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 33.90597, -98.90516 (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 96001104.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4878028
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.