National Historic Landmark

Knight's Ferry Bridge

Knight's Ferry, Stanislaus County, California
Listed
October 15, 2012
Type
Structure
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
12001014

About this property

The Knight's Ferry Bridge is a historic covered bridge spanning the Stanislaus River at Knights Ferry, California. Built in 1863, it is one of the best-preserved 19th-century wood-iron Howe truss bridges to survive. It was designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 2012. The Knight's Ferry Bridge stands at the eastern edge of the small community of Knights Ferry, spanning the Stanislaus River a short distance upriver from the modern Sonora Road bridge. The bridge is almost 379 feet (116 m) long, with a total of four spans set on stone abutments and piers. In addition to spanning the river, the bridge crosses a historic millrace north of the river. The bridge sections consist of Howe trusses formed out of wooden planks bolted together, with wrought iron tension rods, all joined by wrought iron bearing blocks. The exterior of the bridge is finished in vertical board siding, with a metal roof. The bridge, the second to stand on the site, was built in 1862–63, after the first bridge (built 1856) was swept away during the Great Flood of 1862. Because of this flood, the new bridge was built on higher piers. The bridge was for a long time known as the longest covered bridge west of the Mississippi River, and since the 2011 destruction of Old Blenheim Bridge in New York State, which had approximately the same length, it is the second-longest covered bridge in the United States, behind the Smolen-Gulf covered bridge in Ohio. It was documented by the Historic American Buildings Survey and by the Historic American Engineering Record. In addition to its status as a National Historic Landmark, it is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing structure in the Knight's Ferry historic district. List of bridges documented by the Historic American Engineering Record in California List of bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in California National Register of Historic Places listings in Stanislaus County, California Media related to Knight's Ferry Bridge at Wikimedia Commons Media related to HABS No. CA-158 (Covered Bridge) at Wikimedia Commons Media related to HAER No. CA-314 (Knight's Ferry Bridge) at Wikimedia Commons Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) No. CA-158, "Covered Bridge, Spanning Stanislaus River at Tulloch Mill", 3 photos Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) No. CA-314, "Knight's Ferry Bridge, Spanning Stanislaus River on bypassed section of Stockton–Sonora Road", 17 photos, 2 color transparencies, 9 measured drawings, 14 data pages, 2 photo caption pages

Location

Knight's Ferry, Stanislaus County, California
37.81990, -120.66398
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Knight's Ferry Bridge

This page lists Knight's Ferry Bridge. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Knight's Ferry Bridge report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Knights Ferry
Listed
0.1 mi
First National Bank of Oakdale Building
Industrial
10.7 mi
Honigsberger Store
Industrial
10.9 mi
Reed's Store
Industrial
10.9 mi
Copperopolis Armory
Industrial
10.9 mi

Questions about this property

When was Knight's Ferry Bridge listed on the National Register?

Knight's Ferry Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 2012.

What type of historic resource is Knight's Ferry Bridge?

Knight's Ferry Bridge is classified as a structure in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Knight's Ferry Bridge a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Knight's Ferry Bridge has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Knight's Ferry Bridge?

The period of significance for Knight's Ferry Bridge is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Knight's Ferry Bridge?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Knight's Ferry Bridge will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Stanislaus County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Stanislaus County.

Explore StanislausCounty ›

More historic places in California

Browse all historic places in California.

View Californiahistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

California history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Californiahistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Knight's Ferry Bridge will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report