Nokesville in Prince William County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Aden Road Bridge

Bristoe Station Battlefield

Photographed by Kevin W., May 22, 2026

1. Aden Road Bridge Marker

Inscription. Built in 1882 for the Virginia Midland Railway this bridge began life carrying railroad tracks. It was dismantled and re-erected here on Aden Road to carry vehicles over the railway below to eliminate a grade crossing by request of Nokesville residents.

It was listed on the National Register in 1978 and restored by VDOT from 2016 to 2018. It uses a common type of load-bearing truss construction called a Pratt truss, where the diagonal members slope down towards the center, the opposite of the visually similar Howe truss.

At just under 74 feet long it is a typical rural steel bridge from the Keystone Bridge Company from Pittsburgh, PA, one of America's largest bridge contractors. Few of their works have survived the ravages of time and demand for newer bridge structures. For more information, visit www.pwcva.gov/history.

Erected by Prince William Historic Preservation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1882.

Location. 38° 42.454′ N, 77° 33.891′ W. Marker is in Nokesville, Virginia, in Prince William County. It is at the intersection of Aden Road (Virginia Route 646) and Marsteller Drive on Aden Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Nokesville VA 20181, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area,

in Northern Virginia,

and in the Piedmont.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

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 the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Missed Opportunity (here, next to this marker); Preparing for Battle (approx. 1½ miles away); a different marker also named Battle Along the Railroad (approx. 1½ miles away); Confederates in Bristoe (approx. 1½ miles away); Deadly Day for the Excelsior Brigade (approx. 1½ miles away); The "Tigers" of Louisiana (approx. 1.6 miles away); Here Lie Men from the State of Alabama (approx. 1.6 miles away); “We Shall Bag the Whole Crowd” (approx. 1.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Nokesville.

Other markers no longer nearby. Early & Gordon at Bristoe Station (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); A Narrow Escape (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); Battle of Kettle Run (was approx. 0.6 miles away but has been confirmed missing); Battle Along the Railroad (was approx. 1½ miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Deadly Day for Excelsior Brigade (was approx. 1½ miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Also see . . .
1. National Register submission for the Nokesville Truss Bridge. (Submitted on May 23, 2026, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia.)
2. Virginia National Register page for the Nokesville Truss Bridge. (Submitted on May 23, 2026, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia.)

Aden Road Bridge and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kevin W., May 22, 2026

2. Aden Road Bridge and Marker

Pratt Truss photo on the Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kevin W., May 22, 2026

3. Pratt Truss photo on the Marker

A common design for bridges of the era, the Pratt truss' was easily translated from wood to iron and later steel.

Aden Road Bridge photo from Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kevin W., May 22, 2026

4. Aden Road Bridge photo from Marker

St. Louis' Eads Bridge photo on the Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kevin W., May 22, 2026

5. St. Louis' Eads Bridge photo on the Marker

Keystone's monumental Eads Bridge in St. Louis made them an industry leader in 1867 and is also still in use today.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 23, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 22, 2026, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. This page has been viewed 10 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 22, 2026, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 23, 2026, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia.