National Historic Landmark · suspension bridge · Covington, Kentucky

Covington and Cincinnati Suspension Bridge

Suspension bridge across the Ohio River in Covington, Kentucky. Built 1867 by John Augustus Roebling. Added to the National Register in 1975, and a National Historic Landmark.

19th century Roebling Suspension BridgeAerial view of Cincinnati, 2006-01-252008-10-05 02 The John Roebling Bridge adj2008-10-05 02 The John Roebling Bridge
Photos via Wikimedia Commons · 6 in the Commons category

What it is

The John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge is a suspension bridge that spans the Ohio River between Cincinnati, Ohio, and Covington, Kentucky. When opened to traffic on January 1, 1867, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world at 1,057 feet (322 m) main span, before being overtaken by the Niagara Clifton Bridge, which was later surpassed by John A. Roebling's most famous design of the 1883 Brooklyn Bridge at 1,595.5 feet (486.3 m). Pedestrians use the bridge to get between the hotels, bars, restaurants, and other amenities in Northern Kentucky. The bar and restaurant district at the foot of the bridge on the Kentucky side is known as Roebling Point.

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

The record

Property typeStructure
AddressSpans Ohio River between Covington, KY and Cincinnati, OH, Covington, KY
CountyKenton County
ListedMay 15, 1975
Listed forEngineering
Level of significanceNational
Also known asThe Suspension Bridge
Reference number75000786
Built1867 · more from the 1860s
ArchitectJohn Augustus Roebling
Type of placesuspension bridge, road bridge
DesignationsNational Historic Landmark, Historic Civil Engineering Landmark
Contributing resources1 structure

The nomination form, the document that argues why this place matters, is in the National Archives: Read the nomination ↗

Visiting

AddressSpans Ohio River between Covington, KY and Cincinnati, OH, Covington, KY
Coordinates39.0923° N, 84.5095° W · Directions ↗
Also in Covington53 listed places in Covington →
Nearest national park unitWilliam Howard Taft National Historic Site · 2 miles · on Park Atlas
Federal campgrounds nearbyOverlook Shelter (Brookville Lake) 35 miles · Tailwater Shelter 1 (Brookville Lake) 35 miles · Tailwater Shelter 2 (Brookville Lake) 36 miles
This one you can go inside. Hours and admission change with the season; the website above has the current schedule.

Explore

Map

Local history books for Covington

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

Kentucky travel guides

  • Kentucky Off the Beaten Path®
    Zoe Strecker, 2015
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Kentucky Bourbon and Tennessee Whiskey
    Stephanie Stewart-Howard, 2015
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Roadside History
    Melba Porter Hay and Appleton, Thomas H., Jr, 2021
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

When was Covington and Cincinnati Suspension Bridge listed on the National Register?

May 15, 1975. It is also a National Historic Landmark, the higher of the two designations.

Source: National Park Service

When was Covington and Cincinnati Suspension Bridge built?

1867, designed by John Augustus Roebling.

Source: Wikidata

Can I visit Covington and Cincinnati Suspension Bridge?

Yes. Covington and Cincinnati Suspension Bridge is recorded as open to the public.

Source: Wikidata

Where is Covington and Cincinnati Suspension Bridge?

Spans Ohio River between Covington, KY and Cincinnati, OH, Covington, Kenton County, Kentucky. The nearest national park unit is William Howard Taft National Historic Site, 2 miles away.

Source: William Howard Taft National Historic Site

Where is the nomination form for Covington and Cincinnati Suspension Bridge?

The National Archives holds the nomination form, the document that made the case for listing.

Source: National Archives

Are there campgrounds near Covington and Cincinnati Suspension Bridge?

Three federal campgrounds are within reach. The closest is Overlook Shelter (Brookville Lake), 35 miles away. Tailwater Shelter 1 (Brookville Lake) is 35 miles away, and Tailwater Shelter 2 (Brookville Lake) is 36 miles away.

Source: Campsite Atlas

Is there cell service at Covington and Cincinnati Suspension Bridge?

FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the listed point. Coverage indoors and behind old masonry is another matter.

Source: FCC Broadband Map

Sources

Location, type and contributing counts come from the National Park Service's National Register spatial data. Listing dates come from the National Register office's spreadsheet where it carries the listing. Construction date, architect, style, photograph and encyclopedia link come from Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons, matched on reference number 75000786. Nothing here is transcribed by hand. The nomination form and photographs ↗ at NPGallery are the original nomination as filed with the National Park Service, and the form is often the best description of the place. The description under "What it is" is the opening of the Wikipedia article, CC BY-SA.