National Register of Historic Places

Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Stone Arch Viaduct

Shelby, Shelby County, Iowa
Listed
July 14, 1998
Type
Structure
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
98000870

About this property

The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Stone Arch Viaduct, also known as the Old Stone Arch, is located northeast of Shelby, Iowa, United States. The span carried the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad tracks over Little Silver Creek. It measures 35 feet (11 m) from the water level to the deck, 20 feet (6.1 m) in width, and 30 feet (9.1 m) in length. The bridge has flanking wingwalls that measure 40 feet (12 m) in length. Limestone for the bridge was quarried near Earlham, Iowa and transported by train to the site. It is one of two such bridges known to exist in Shelby County. The Rock Island was the first railroad to enter the county, and continued to operate here into the 1950s. At that time they abandoned the line when the Atlantic cutoff was built providing a more direct route between Atlantic, Iowa and Council Bluffs. While the tracks were removed, the stone arch, the railroad grade, and the right-of-way were left intact. They are now part of the Rock Island Old Stone Arch Nature Trail. The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.

Location

Shelby, Shelby County, Iowa
41.52397, -95.43672

Categories

ENGINEERINGTRANSPORTATION
National Register nomination ›
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.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Shelby Consolidated School
Industrial
1.2 mi
Carstens Farmstead
Industrial
3 mi
Eckle Round Barn
Industrial
3.2 mi
Turner, Francis A. and Rose M., House
Industrial
5.5 mi
Graceland Cemetery Chapel
Industrial
5.6 mi

Nearby Battles

Shelby County Iowa — Confederate Raid Threat
1864Civil War
0.7 mi

Questions about this property

When was Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Stone Arch Viaduct listed on the National Register?

Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Stone Arch Viaduct was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 14, 1998.

What type of historic resource is Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Stone Arch Viaduct?

Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Stone Arch Viaduct is classified as a structure in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Stone Arch Viaduct?

The period of significance for Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Stone Arch Viaduct is recorded as the industrial era.

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