Near Keedysville in Washington County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Hitt Bridge
Photographed by Craig Swain, September 17, 2007
1. Hitt Bridge Marker
A little battered, but standing.
This three-arch span with its unusually high center arch was built in 1830 over a ford in the Antietam Creek that was used by Braddock's army in 1755. Samuel Hitt was instrumental in financing this bridge, which was built by Silas Harry, as agent for John Weaver, at a cost of only $1,413.66. This ford was later chosen by Hitt as the site of his grist and sawmill, now known as Pry's Mill.
Erected by Washington County Historical Advisory Committee.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Bridges & Viaducts. In addition, it is included in the Maryland, Washington County Historical Advisory Committee series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1830.
Location. 39° 29.272′ N, 77° 42.817′ W. Marker has been damaged. Marker is near Keedysville, Maryland, in Washington County. It is on Keedysville Road east of Mansfield Road, on the right when traveling west. Located at the east end of the Hitt Bridge. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 18829 Keedysville Rd, Keedysville MD 21756, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Baltimore Metro Region and in Western Maryland. It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Hitt-Cost House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Pry Mill (approx. 0.2 miles away); Civil War Hospital Site (approx. 0.2 miles away); Prys Mill Bridge
this page online
Regarding Hitt Bridge. The Hitt Bridge is better known as the "Upper" or "Hooker" Bridge, a significant crossing point of Antietam Creek during the Battle of Antietam.
Also see . . . The Bridges of Washington County. Arlington Magazine website entry (Submitted on March 29, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Additional commentary.
1. Battle of Antietam
On the day before the Battle, September 16, 1862, at around 4 p.m., Gen. Joseph Hooker's Federal I Corps crossed Antietam Creek here and just to the south at Pry's Mill Ford. This placed Hooker's men in position to the north of the Confederate line. The next day, these troops would initiate the Battle of Antietam with their early morning attack. Since the bridge was on the northern section of the battlefield,
Photographed by Craig Swain, September 17, 2007
2. The East Approaches to the Hitt Bridge
— Submitted October 28, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.
Photographed by Craig Swain, September 17, 2007
3. The Hitt Bridge from the East Side
Photographed by Craig Swain, September 17, 2007
4. View of Hitt Bridge from the West Side
Photographed by Christopher Busta-Peck, March 29, 2008
5. West side of Hitt Bridge
Photographed by Mike McKeown, January 3, 2026
6. Hitt Bridge Marker
Marker is extremely damaged
Credits. This page was last revised on January 6, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 28, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 59,222 times since then and 150 times this year. Last updated on January 3, 2026, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 28, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 5. submitted on March 31, 2008, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio. 6. submitted on January 3, 2026, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
