Humpback Bridge
United States historic place in Callaghan, Virginia. Built 1857. Added to the National Register in 1969, and a National Historic Landmark.
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What it is
The Humpback Covered Bridge located in the U.S. state of Virginia, is one of the few remaining covered bridges in the United States that was built higher in the middle than on either end; hence the name of "humpback". The bridge was built in 1857 and is also the oldest remaining covered bridge in the state of Virginia. Its WGCB number is 46-03-01. The bridge spans a tributary of the Jackson River known as Dunlap Creek, for a distance of 109 feet (33 m). The humpback feature is 4 feet (1.2 m) higher in the center than at either end. The bridge is located near the city of Covington, Virginia.
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The record
| Property type | Structure |
| Address | Spanning Dunlop Creek at bypassed section of former James River & Kanawha Turnpike (later, Midland Trail), Callaghan vicinity, VA |
| County | Alleghany County |
| Listed | Oct 1, 1969 |
| Listed for | Engineering |
| Level of significance | National |
| Reference number | 69000219 |
| Built | 1857 · more from the 1850s |
| Type of place | covered bridge, road bridge |
| Designations | Virginia Historic Landmark |
| Contributing resources | 1 structure |
| Standing | Yes |
The nomination form, the document that argues why this place matters, is in the National Archives: Read the nomination ↗
Visiting
| Address | Spanning Dunlop Creek at bypassed section of former James River & Kanawha Turnpike (later, Midland Trail), Callaghan, VA |
| Coordinates | 37.8007° N, 80.0469° W · Directions ↗ |
| Nearest national park unit | Booker T Washington National Monument · 50 miles · on Park Atlas |
| Federal campgrounds nearby | Morris Hill Campground 10 miles · Coles Point 11 miles · Craig Creek Recreation Area 13 miles |
Explore
Map
Nearby in Alleghany County
Local history books for Alleghany County
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Guidebooks to historic places in Virginia
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
When was Humpback Bridge listed on the National Register?
Oct 1, 1969. It is also a National Historic Landmark, the higher of the two designations.
Source: National Park Service
When was Humpback Bridge built?
1857.
Source: Wikidata
Where is Humpback Bridge?
Spanning Dunlop Creek at bypassed section of former James River & Kanawha Turnpike (later, Midland Trail), Callaghan vicinity, Alleghany County, Virginia. The nearest national park unit is Booker T Washington National Monument, 50 miles away.
Where is the nomination form for Humpback Bridge?
The National Archives holds the nomination form, the document that made the case for listing.
Source: National Archives
Are there campgrounds near Humpback Bridge?
Three federal campgrounds are within reach. The closest is Morris Hill Campground, 10 miles away. Coles Point is 11 miles away, and Craig Creek Recreation Area is 13 miles away.
Source: Campsite Atlas
Is there cell service at Humpback Bridge?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 4G LTE, 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 69000219. 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.