Thomas Mill Covered Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Thomas Mill Covered Bridge, aka the Thomas Mill Bridge or the Thomas Mill Road Covered Bridge, is a historic, single-span, wooden covered bridge
across the Wissahickon Creek
in Fairmount Park
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
.
The 86.5 feet (26.4 m), 18.66 feet (5.7 m), Howe-truss bridge was built in 1855. It was renovated by the Works Progress Administration
in 1939, and by the City of Philadelphia in 2000.
It is the only remaining covered bridge in Philadelphia and is the only covered bridge in a major US city. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1980.
The bridge is open to pedestrian traffic.
Covered bridge
A covered bridge is a bridge with enclosed sides and a roof, often accommodating only a single lane of traffic. Most covered bridges are wooden; some newer ones are concrete or metal with glass sides...
across the Wissahickon Creek
Wissahickon Creek
Wissahickon Creek is a stream in southeastern Pennsylvania. Rising in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, it runs about 23 miles passing through and dividing Northwest Philadelphia before emptying into the Schuylkill River at Philadelphia...
in Fairmount Park
Fairmount Park
Fairmount Park is the municipal park system of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It consists of 63 parks, with , all overseen by the Philadelphia Department of Parks and Recreation, successor to the Fairmount Park Commission in 2010.-Fairmount Park proper:...
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
The 86.5 feet (26.4 m), 18.66 feet (5.7 m), Howe-truss bridge was built in 1855. It was renovated by the Works Progress Administration
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
in 1939, and by the City of Philadelphia in 2000.
It is the only remaining covered bridge in Philadelphia and is the only covered bridge in a major US city. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1980.
The bridge is open to pedestrian traffic.
External links
- Listing, drawings, and photographs at the Historic American Buildings SurveyHistoric American Buildings SurveyThe Historic American Buildings Survey , Historic American Engineering Record , and Historic American Landscapes Survey are programs of the National Park Service established for the purpose of documenting historic places. Records consists of measured drawings, archival photographs, and written...
- Article at Drexel UniversityDrexel UniversityDrexel University is a private research university with the main campus located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It was founded in 1891 by Anthony J. Drexel, a noted financier and philanthropist. Drexel offers 70 full-time undergraduate programs and accelerated degrees...
- "A Bridge Too Old", by Amy Choi, Philadelphia Citypaper, August 27–September 3, 1998
- Listing at Philadelphia Architects and Buildings
- Listing and photographs at BridgeHunter.com
- Bridges of the Wissahickon, Friends of the Wissahickon