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Casselman Bridge

Little Crossings Bridge

Casselman Bridge

Primary Photographer(s): Nathan Holth and Rick McOmber

Bridge Documented: August 1, 2007 and July 6, 2014

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Facility Carried / Feature Intersected
Abandoned Historic National Road Over Casselman River
Location
Grantsville: Garrett County, Maryland: United States
Structure Type
Stone Segmental Deck Arch, Fixed
Construction Date and Builder / Engineer
1813 By Builder/Contractor: David Shriver Jr.
Rehabilitation Date
1911
Main Span Length
80.0 Feet (24.4 Meters)
Structure Length
354.0 Feet (107.9 Meters)
Roadway Width
48 Feet (14.63 Meters)
Spans
1 Main Span(s)
Inventory Number
Not Applicable

Historic Significance Rating (HSR)
View Information About HSR Ratings

Bridge Documentation

View Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) Documentation For This Bridge

HAER Drawings (PDF)

View The National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form For This Historic Bridge.

Among the oldest surviving bridges in the country is this magnificent stone arch bridge that is so old that it was built during the the time of the War of 1812! At the time it was built it was a monumental engineering achievement for the United States and it was the longest single span bridge in the country. The bridge was part of the National Road. If Route 66 is considered the mother road, than the National Road would be the father road. It was the main route to travel west past the Appalachians, and as such was a critical transportation feature for the early United States. This bridge stands today as a major remnant of that roadway. As an arch bridge of any construction date, the 80 foot long, 30 foot high span is very impressive and noteworthy. The span length, combined with the bridge's construction date, makes this one of the most important stone arch bridges in the country. The Casselman Bridge is listed as a National Historic Landmark, which is a distinction that very few bridges have earned. The bridge has been preserved in place for pedestrian use in a park setting. US-40, the modern equivalent of the National Road, runs on modern alignment just south of this bridge. The US-40 Bridge is worth a look too.

Information and Findings From Pennsylvania's Historic Bridge Inventory

Description

The Casselman Bridge, a large single-arch structure erected in 1813, extends some 354', spanning the Casselman River. Stones are laid in an a random-coursed ashlar pattern. The height of the bridge is approximately 30' from the crown of the arch to the waterline below, while its width between the abutments is about 48'. The Casselman Bridge is in relatively sound condition. In 1911 the bridge was repaired, but today remains essentially unchanged from the time of its construction. Six steel columns support the structure on either side and do not overtly detract from its appearance. The old National Road has been supplanted by the new Route 40 and in actuality no longer exists. There is, however, a small portion of the old National Road on either side of the entrances to the Casselman Bridge. This area surrounding the bridge has been made into a public park with picnic tables in the area adjacent to the bridge.

Statement of Significance

The National Road was the Federal government's first experiment in public highway construction. Congress authorized the road's building in 1806 and by 1818 the road stretched from Cumberland, Maryland, to the Ohio River in what is today West Virginia. Because of the controversy regarding the propriety of the national government's participation in public road construction, the project was halted until 1828. The old National Road provided ready access to the trans-Appalachian region and greatly stimulated its settlement and growth. The Casselman Bridge was an integral part of the National Road, and at its completion, possessed the largest stone arch in the United States. Built about 1813, the bridge remains a splendid paradigm of early American engineering prowess. A traveler of the period spoke of it in laudatory terms calling it simply "superb."

Bridge Considered Historic By Survey: Yes


This bridge is tagged with the following special condition(s): Unorganized Photos

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Photo Galleries and Videos: Casselman Bridge

 

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2007 Bridge Photo-Documentation

A collection of overview and detail photos. This photo gallery contains a combination of Original Size photos and Mobile Optimized photos in a touch-friendly popup viewer.
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View Photo Gallery

2014 Additional Unorganized Photos

Original / Full Size Photos
A supplemental collection of photos that are from additional visit(s) to the bridge and have not been organized or captioned. This gallery offers photos in the highest available resolution and file size in a touch-friendly popup viewer.
Alternatively, Browse Without Using Viewer

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View Photo Gallery

2014 Additional Unorganized Photos

Mobile Optimized Photos
A supplemental collection of photos that are from additional visit(s) to the bridge and have not been organized or captioned. This gallery features data-friendly, fast-loading photos in a touch-friendly popup viewer.
Alternatively, Browse Without Using Viewer

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Maps and Links: Casselman Bridge

Coordinates (Latitude, Longitude):

Search For Additional Bridge Listings:

Bridgehunter.com: View listed bridges within 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) of this bridge.

Bridgehunter.com: View listed bridges within 10 miles (16 kilometers) of this bridge.

HistoricBridges.org Bridge Browser: View listed bridges within 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) of this bridge.

HistoricBridges.org Bridge Browser: View listed bridges within 10 miles (16 kilometers) of this bridge.

2021 National Bridge Inventory: View listed bridges within 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) of this bridge.

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