The Shearer's Covered Bridge is a
covered bridge
A covered bridge is a timber-truss bridge with a roof, decking, and siding, which in most covered bridges create an almost complete enclosure. The purpose of the covering is to protect the wooden structural members from the weather. Uncovered woo ...
that spans the
Big Chiques Creek in
Lancaster County,
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...
,
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
. (''Chiques Creek'' was known as ''Chickies Creek'' until 2002).
The bridge has a single span, wooden, double
Burr arch truss
The Burr Arch Truss—or, simply, Burr Truss or Burr Arch—is a combination of an arch and a ''multiple kingpost'' truss design. It was invented in 1804 by Theodore Burr, patented on April 3, 1817, and used in bridges, usually covered bridge ...
es design. It is the only covered bridge in the county painted entirely in red, the traditional color of
Lancaster County covered bridges, on both the inside and outside including both approaches. The other all red bridge,
Pool Forge Covered Bridge, is only painted on the outside. It is one of only 3 covered bridges in the county with horizontal side boards.
The bridge's
WGCB Number is 38-36-31. Added in 1980, it is listed on the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...
as structure number 80003532.
It is located at (40.17150, -76.38983).
History
The bridge was built in 1847 by Jacob Clare. It was rebuilt in 1855 and stayed there until it was moved in 1971 to its present location in the Manheim Memorial Park. It is 89 feet long and it's also the only covered bridge that does not allow motor vehicles.
Dimensions
*Length: total length
*Width: total width
*Overhead clearance:
Gallery
Image:Shearer's Covered Bridge Side 3008px.JPG, View of the bridge from the side
Image:Shearer's Covered Bridge Three Quarters View 3008px.jpg, Three quarters view
Image:Shearer's Covered Bridge Approach 3008px.jpg, One of the approaches to the bridge
Image:Shearer's Covered Bridge Inside HDR 3008px.jpg, An inside view of the bridge
Image:Shearer's Covered Bridge Truss HDR 3007px.jpg, A closeup of the Burr arch truss
Image:Shearer's Covered Bridge Window 3008px.jpg, One of the bridge's window
Image:Shearer's Covered Bridge Floor Boards 3264px.jpg, The bridge's floor boards
Image:Shearer's Covered Bridge Ceiling 3008px.JPG, The bridge's ceiling
Image:Shearer's Covered Bridge Plaque 2233px.jpg, History plaque on the bridge
Image:Shearer's Covered Bridge from the air-1.jpg, Approach view from the air
Image:Shearer's Covered Bridge from the air-3.jpg, Side view from the air
Image:Shearer's Covered Bridge from the air-2.jpg, View from the air towards Manheim Central High School
See also
*
Burr arch truss
The Burr Arch Truss—or, simply, Burr Truss or Burr Arch—is a combination of an arch and a ''multiple kingpost'' truss design. It was invented in 1804 by Theodore Burr, patented on April 3, 1817, and used in bridges, usually covered bridge ...
*
List of Lancaster County covered bridges
The following is a list of covered bridges in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania United States, USA. Lancaster County has the most covered bridges in Pennsylvania with 28 covered bridges. Parke County, Indiana has the ...
References
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{{NRHP bridges
Covered bridges in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Bridges completed in 1847
Bridges completed in 1855
Covered bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania
1847 establishments in Pennsylvania
National Register of Historic Places in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Road bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania
Wooden bridges in Pennsylvania
Burr Truss bridges in the United States