Valley Railroad Stone Bridge
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Why it's listed
Spanning Folly Mills Creek just west of Interstate 81, south of Staunton, this granite bridge carried the Valley Railroad across the stream. It has four semi-circular arches set on gently splayed piers, with slightly projecting imposts below the arches. It is 130 feet long and 15 feet wide, faced in rough-surface ashlar. The nomination dates its completion to 1884 and ties it to the line's extension from Staunton toward Salem via Lexington, although a date stone on the bridge reads 1874, a discrepancy noted in the review. The Valley Railroad was largely controlled by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, which discontinued the branch in 1942. The track was later removed, and the Virginia Department of Highways bought the bridge in 1965 while acquiring right-of-way for Interstate 81. It is recognized for its stone masonry, its scenic quality, and its role in the region's rail history. Only the rails and ties have been removed, and the state maintains it as a landmark.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it an outstanding example of stone masonry construction and one of the most scenic bridges in the Commonwealth. It was built as part of the Valley Railroad's extension from Staunton toward Salem via Lexington. It is also a familiar landmark to travelers along the Valley of Virginia.
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 74002105, listed November 19, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | S of Jolivue off VA 654, Jolivue |
|---|---|
| County | Augusta County |
| Listed | November 19, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74002105 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 19th Century; specific date 1884 |
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Excellent condition and unaltered apart from removal of rails and ties; maintained by the Virginia Department of Highways as a scenic landmark and no longer serves a railroad function. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 38.08942, -79.07756 (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 74002105.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14713434
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.