Phoenix Bridge
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Why it's listed
Carrying a road over Craig Creek northwest of Eagle Rock in Botetourt County, this iron bridge was built in 1887 by the Phoenix Bridge Company of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. It is a trapezoidal Whipple truss made of rolled wrought iron, with the firm's distinctive Phoenix posts, built from four flanged segments riveted together, and pinned joints with round and rectangular rods. The superstructure rests on two ashlar granite piers, one of which was filled in on the bank side to serve as an abutment, and the wooden roadway survives. Cast spandrels at each end carry garlands, anthemions and the maker's inscription, while small urn-like finials and pierced quatrefoil and trefoil panels add ornament. The bridge matters as a surviving product of the prefabricated bridge industry, which shipped light, easily assembled iron spans to remote places like Eagle Rock. Its decoration reflects an era when industrial goods were embellished, and it sits in an unusually scenic, unspoiled rural setting.
Significance in brief: The bridge is presented as a notable surviving example of nineteenth-century prefabricated bridges made for rural America by one of the most important manufacturers. It also displays decorative ironwork unusual for industrial products of its era. Its scenic, unspoiled setting adds to its interest.
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 75002015, listed June 10, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NW of Eagle Rock off VA 615 over Craig Creek, Eagle Rock |
|---|---|
| County | Botetourt County |
| Listed | June 10, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75002015 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date 1887) |
| Architect / builder | Phoenix Bridge Co., Phoenixville, Pa. |
| Areas of significance | Art, Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good and altered, on its original site; the bridge retains its wooden roadway. One pier has been filled in on the bank side to form an abutment. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 37.64911, -79.83109 (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 75002015.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14713059
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.