Broad Run Bridge and Tollhouse
Why it's listed
Broad Run Bridge and Toll House sit where Routes 7 and 28 meet Broad Run, near Sterling in Loudoun County. The stone bridge has two arches carried on a central pier and heavy abutments, with conical buttressing at the arches and a low parapet along the roadway. The stone toll house stands at the western end on the south side. It began as a one-story, three-bay building and was later enlarged with three wings, though the old walls remain largely intact. Both were part of the Leesburg Turnpike, chartered in 1809. A stone reputedly dated 1820 suggests the likely construction date, replacing at least three earlier wooden bridges that washed away. The stone bridge carried traffic until 1949, and the road ceased to be a toll road at the start of the Civil War. The property was listed as one of several surviving stone bridges in Virginia and probably the only such bridge paired with a toll house. The toll house is now a private residence. A June 1972 flood damaged the causeway.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it one of several surviving stone bridges in Virginia and probably the only extant bridge-and-toll-house combination. It is tied to early 19th-century turnpike building meant to promote commerce and travel westward. The design is described as picturesque, with strict functionalism and structural integrity.
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 70000808, listed April 17, 1970. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Jct. of Rtes. 7 and 28 with Broad Run, Sterling |
|---|---|
| County | Loudoun County |
| Listed | April 17, 1970 |
| Reference number | 70000808 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Transportation |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as fair and altered. The bridge is owned by the state highway department and the toll house is a private residence. The causeway at the west end was damaged by flood in June 1972. A concrete and steel bridge replaced the stone bridge for traffic in 1949. |
| Acreage | 9.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.04692, -77.43274 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 70000808.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4971930
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.