Farmville in Prince Edward County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
High Bridge Trail
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 22, 2021
1. High Bridge Trail Marker
Inscription.
High Bridge Trail. . , High Bridge was constructed in 1853 to the cross of the Appomattox River east of Farmville. The Bridge completed South Side Railroad's connection from Petersburg to Lynchburg. The original stood 125 feet above the Appomattox River, built on 21 brick piers and an incredible 2,529 feet in length!
The original bridge was decommissioned after 60 years of service but not without playing a significant role in the Civil War. The armies of General Lee and General Grant were marching westward from Richmond in April of 1865.
The original bridge was upgraded several times to deal with increasing loads and rail traffic. It was ultimately decided to build an entirely new bridge after the turn of the century. The new span, still standing strong to this day, is supported by steel towers and offers one of the most impressive views of any trail system in Virginia.
This new Rail Plaza on Main Street, constructed in 2012, now serves as a trailhead for the High Bridge Trail State Park and you can head east from here along the Trail to see this historic gem for yourself. The aerial photo below was taken in 1950 and shows the old freight depot, demolished in 1992. The 2012 Railroad Plaza construction includes a smaller scale replica of the freight depot to serve as a public restroom.
This panel only begins to scratch the surface of Farmville's unique history. Only a few blocks away is a detailed exhibit and to-scale model of the historic High Bridge. Please take time to see it for yourself at the Heartland Regional Visitor Center and Transportation Heritage Museum, located at 121 East Third Street.
"There have been higher bridges not so long and longer brides not so high, but taking the height and length together, this is, perhaps, the largest bridge in the world." C.O. Sanford, South Side RR Chief Engineer, 1852
High Bridge was constructed in 1853 to the cross of the Appomattox River east of Farmville. The Bridge completed South Side Railroad's connection from Petersburg to Lynchburg. The original stood 125 feet above the Appomattox River, built on 21 brick piers and an incredible 2,529 feet in length!
The original bridge was decommissioned after 60 years of service but not without playing a significant role in the Civil War. The armies of General Lee and General Grant were marching westward from Richmond in April of 1865.
The original bridge was upgraded several times to deal with increasing loads and rail traffic. It was ultimately decided to build an entirely new bridge after the turn of the century. The new span, still standing strong to this day, is supported by steel towers and offers one of the most impressive views of any trail system in Virginia.
This new Rail Plaza on Main Street, constructed in 2012, now serves as a trailhead for the High Bridge Trail State Park and you can head east from here along the Trail to see this historic gem for yourself. The aerial
Click or scan to see this page online
photo below was taken in 1950 and shows the old freight depot, demolished in 1992. The 2012 Railroad Plaza construction includes a smaller scale replica of the freight depot to serve as a public restroom.
This panel only begins to scratch the surface of Farmville's unique history. Only a few blocks away is a detailed exhibit and to-scale model of the historic High Bridge. Please take time to see it for yourself at the Heartland Regional Visitor Center and Transportation Heritage Museum, located at 121 East Third Street.
"There have been higher bridges not so long and longer brides not so high, but taking the height and length together, this is, perhaps, the largest bridge in the world." C.O. Sanford, South Side RR Chief Engineer, 1852
Erected by Town of Farmville, Virginia.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1865.
Location. 37° 18.275′ N, 78° 23.464′ W. Marker is in Farmville, Virginia, in Prince Edward County. Marker is at the intersection of North Main Street (Virginia Route 45) and Depot Street, on the left when traveling north on North Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 318 N Main St, Farmville VA 23901, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 22, 2021
Credits. This page was last revised on April 25, 2021. It was originally submitted on April 25, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 187 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on April 25, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
