Casselman Bridge

The Casselman Bridge is a historic transportation structure on the Casselman River, located immediately east of Grantsville in Garrett County, Maryland.[4] The bridge was built in 1813-1814 as part of the National Road. Historic markers posted at each end read:

Erected 1813 by David Shriver, Jr.,
Sup't of the "Cumberland Road" (The
National Road). This 80 foot span
was the largest stone arch in America
at the time. It was continuously
used from 1813 to 1933.[5]

Casselman River Bridge State Park
The bridge's south aspect
Map showing the location of Casselman River Bridge State Park
Map showing the location of Casselman River Bridge State Park
Location in Maryland
Map showing the location of Casselman River Bridge State Park
Map showing the location of Casselman River Bridge State Park
Casselman Bridge (the United States)
LocationGarrett County, Maryland, United States
Nearest townGrantsville, Maryland
Coordinates39°41′48″N 79°08′37″W[1]
Area4 acres (1.6 ha)[2]
Elevation2,113 ft (644 m)[1]
DesignationMaryland state park
Established1957
AdministratorMaryland Department of Natural Resources
WebsiteCasselman River Bridge State Park
Casselman's Bridge, National Road
LocationEast of Grantsville on U.S. Route 40 Alternate, Grantsville, Maryland
Area< 1 acre
Built1813-1814
ArchitectDavid Shriver, Jr.[3]
NRHP reference No.66000391
Significant dates
Added to NRHPOctober 15, 1966
Designated NHLJanuary 29, 1964

Since 1957, the structure, which has also been known as Casselmans Bridge, Castleman's Bridge, and Little Crossings Bridge, has been preserved by the state of Maryland as Casselman River Bridge State Park.[6] The bridge was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1964,[7] and placed on the National Historic Register in 1966.[8]

History

The 354-foot-long (108 m) stone arch bridge spans 80 feet (24 m) with a 30-foot-high (9.1 m) arch and a roadway width of 48 feet (15 m).[9][10] The bridge was constructed in 1813–1814 to aid in the westward movement through the frontier wilderness west of Cumberland, Maryland. The first wheeled vehicles crossed the bridge in 1815.[11] As a "tidal wave" of western expansion followed the opening of the National Road, Casselman Bridge had heavy traffic that included 10-ton loads drawn by 12-horse teams.[8] A small portion of the original National Road still exists at the approaches to the bridge.[9]

The bridge was strengthened for motorized traffic in 1911 and continued in service as a highway until 1933, when a modern steel span was built nearby to serve what is now US Route 40 Alternate.[11] In the 1940s and early 1950s, efforts were made to preserve the bridge when sections started to crumble and fall apart. The bridge was closed to vehicles in 1953[12] and partially restored by the state in the mid-1950s.[10] Additional maintenance occurred in 1979, 1996, 2002, and 2012.[13]

Activities and amenities

In addition to walking over the historic bridge, the state park offers picnicking facilities and fishing in Casselman River. Historic structures to the east of the park include Stanton's Mill, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places,[4] and the restored log cabin craft shops of Spruce Forest Artisan Village.

  • Bridge in 2014
    Bridge in 2014

See also

References
  1. "Casselman Bridge". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  2. "DNR Lands Acreage" (PDF). Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  3. "Casselman River Bridge Bicentennial". Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  4. "Casselman River Bridge State Park". Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  5. "Castleman's River Bridge". Historical Marker Database. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  6. "DNR restricts access to the bridge and the immediate area" (Press release). Maryland Department of Natural Resources. March 6, 2012. Archived from the original on January 4, 2013. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
  7. "Listing of National Historic Landmarks by State". National Park Service. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  8. Joseph Scott Mendinghall, Historian (May 3, 1976). "Casselman Bridge, National Road". National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination. National Park Service. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
  9. "Casselman Bridge, National Road". National Register Listings in Maryland. Maryland Historic Trust. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  10. "History". Casselman River Bridge State Park. Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  11. "Little Crossings Bridge, National Road". Library of Congress. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
  12. "Repairs scheduled for Casselman River Bridge". Maryland Department of Natural Resources. September 28, 2012. Archived from the original on July 4, 2013. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
  13. Sawyers, Michael A. (June 25, 2012). "No stone left unturned on Casselman Bridge". Cumberland Times-News. Cumberland MD. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
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