Metamora in Franklin County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
The Duck Creek Aqueduct
A Bridge for Water
Photographed by Tom Bosse, May 22, 2021
1. The Duck Creek Aqueduct Marker
This unique structure - a bridge for water - carries the canal across Duck Creek
Engineers designed this aqueduct (AH-kwuh-duckt) to carry the canal and boats above the creek.
Why would water need a bridge?
Canals rely on water that is completely level - otherwise the water would simply run downhill.
To keep the canal level across creeksand other dips in the land, engineers designed aqueducts like this one.
Floodwaters destroyed the original aqueduct in 1847. Engineers and construction teams replaced it with a covered Burr arch truss structure.
[Captions:]
This is the only known wooden covered aqueduct still operating in the United States. It's on the National Register of Historic Places and is a National Civil Engineering Landmark.
Lift to see the Burr Arch Truss
80 feet long, 17 feet and 7 inches wide, and 16 feet above Duck Creek.
It's a double Burr arch truss - each side has two 75 foot arches made of Indiana poplar.
Beams and kingpost are encased within the arches.
Two floodgates on each side release extra water to keep the canal level.
Key Dates
First completed in 1846
Built as covered Burr arch truss in 1847
Rebuiltin 1949 Restored in 2016
Click or scan to see
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the ASCE Civil Engineering Landmarks series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1847.
Location. 39° 26.769′ N, 85° 7.813′ W. Marker is in Metamora, Indiana, in Franklin County. It is on Main Street 0.1 miles east of Basin Street, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Metamora IN 47030, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named Duck Creek Aqueduct (a few steps from this marker); Whitewater Canal State Historic Site (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Metamora Christian Church (about 700 feet away); Stable (approx. 0.2 miles away); Animals Power the Canal Boat (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Ben Franklin (approx. 0.2 miles away); Martindale Hotel (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Confectionary (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Metamora.
Photographed by Tom Bosse, May 22, 2021
2. The Duck Creek Aqueduct Marker
Photographed by Tom Bosse, May 22, 2021
3. National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark
Photographed by Tom Bosse, May 22, 2021
4. The Duck Creek Aqueduct
Photographed by Tom Bosse, May 22, 2021
5. The Duck Creek Aqueduct
Photographed by Tom Bosse, May 22, 2021
6. The Duck Creek Aqueduct - Burr Arch Truss
Credits. This page was last revised on October 17, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 12, 2024, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 226 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on October 12, 2024, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
