Near Claysville in Washington County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

“S” Bridge

By J. J. Prats, August 27, 2006

1. “S” Bridge Marker

Inscription. This stone bridge was part of the National, or Cumberland Road. Originated in 1805, it was completed to Wheeling in 1818. Over it passed countless wagons and stages uniting the East and the growing West.

Erected 1947 by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

Marker series. This marker is included in the The Historic National Road marker series.

Location. 40° 8.379′ N, 80° 20.925′ W. Marker is near Claysville, Pennsylvania, in Washington County. Marker is at the intersection of U.S. 40 and S Bridge Road and Green Valley Road (Pennsylvania Route 221) on U.S. 40. Touch for map. The Zip code changes to 15301 (Washington) across Route 221 from the bridge. Marker is in this post office area: Claysville PA 15323, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 5 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. William Holmes McGuffey ( approx. 0.6 miles away); Washington ( approx. 1.3 miles away); National Road ( approx. 1.3 miles away); Wolff’s Fort ( approx. 1.6 miles away); Augusta Town ( approx. 1.9 miles away).

More about this marker. There is a little park with a picnic table on the Route 221 side of the bridge.

This Marker, Next to National Road Milemarker image. Click for full size.

By J. J. Prats, August 27, 2006

2. This Marker, Next to National Road Milemarker

Original milemarkers were cast iron, painted white. This one is a fiberglass replica.

Also see . . .
1. Another “S” Bridge in Ohio. This Ohio marker does a better job of explaining why the bridge was built in the “S” shape to begin with. (Submitted on January 12, 2007.)

2. A little more about this bridge. (Submitted on January 11, 2007.)
3. Historical Qualities of the National Road. “The story of the National Road is the story of America’s westward expansion; the opening up to settlement of a continuously moving ‘western frontier’ ”. (Submitted on January 11, 2007, by J. J. Prats of Springfield, Virginia.)

4. "S" Bridge - Behind the Marker. ExplorePAHistory.com (Submitted on July 13, 2011, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.)

Categories. • Bridges & Viaducts • Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers •

Bridge's Roadbed image. Click for full size.

By J. J. Prats, August 27, 2006

3. Bridge's Roadbed

Compare with Photo 5 below.

Two-Arch Bridge Crosses Creek image. Click for full size.

By J. J. Prats, August 27, 2006

4. Two-Arch Bridge Crosses Creek

Historical photograph of the S-Bridge image. Click for full size.

By J. K. Lacock

5. Historical photograph of the S-Bridge

From The National Road, Most Historic Thoroughfare in the United States, and Strategic Eastern Link in the National Old Trails Ocean-to-Ocean Highway, page 77, by Robert Bruce, Brooklyn Eagle Press, 1916.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on January 11, 2007, by J. J. Prats of Springfield, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,766 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 11, 2007, by J. J. Prats of Springfield, Virginia. 5. submitted on February 27, 2008, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio.