National Register of Historic Places Registration Form
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NFS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 (Rev. 8-86) RECEIVED United States Department of the Interior National Park Service OCT i 4 19S: National Register of Historic Places NATIONAL Registration Form REGISTER This form is for use in nominating or requesting determinations of eligibility for individual properties or districts. See instructions in Guidelines for Completing National Register Forms (National Register Bulletin 16). Complete each item by marking V in the appropriate box or by entering the requested information. If an Hem does not apply to the property being documented, enter "N/A" for "not applicable." For functions, styles, materials, and areas of significance, enter only the categories and subcategories listed in the instructions. For additional space use continuation sheets (Form 10-900a). Type all entries. 1. Name of Property historic name Niobrara River Bridge other name/site number NEHBS Number KXOO-334 2. Location street & number over the Niobrara River 1.3 miles NW of Niobrara N/A not for publication city, town Niobrara x vicinity state NE county Knox code 107 zip code 68760 3. Classification Ownership of Property Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Number of Resources within Property Category of Property structure Contributing Noncontributing 0 0 buildings 0 0 sites 1 0 structures 0 0 objects 1 0 Total Number of contributing resources previously listed in the National Register: 0 Name of related multiple property listing: N/A 4. State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1986, as amended, I hereby certify that this X nomination ___ request for determination of eligibility meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the National Register of Historic Places and meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. In my opinion, the propei X meets does not meet the National Register Criteria. I A Signature of certifying official Date Director. Nebraska State Historical Society State or Federal agency and bureau In my opinion, the property __ meets does not meet the National Register Criteria. Signature of commenting or other official Date State or Federal agency and bureau 5. National Park Service Certification I, hereby, certify that this property is: entered in the National Register __ see continuation sheet determined eligible for the National Register __ see continuation sheet determined not eligible for the National Register removed from the National Register other (explain:) Signature of the Keeper Date of Action 6. Function or Use Historic Function (enter categories from instructions) Current Function (enter categories from instructions) TRANSPORTATION/rail-related TRANSPORTATION/pedestrian-related 7. Description Architectural Classification (enter categories from instructions) Materials (enter categories from instructions) OTHER/rigid-connected Warren through truss foundation N/A walls N/A roof N/A other N/A Describe present and historic physical appearance. Located in northwestern Knox County, the Nio other features: upper chord and inclined end post, brara River Bridge spans the Niobrara River im two built-up channels with double mediately upstream from its confluence with the lacing on both sides; end post stif- Missouri River. The small town of Niobrara is fener, two channels with double located slightly more than a mile to the south lacing on both sides; lower chord, east, and Bon Homme County, South Dakota, is two channels with batten plates; visible across the Missouri to the north. The vertical, wide flange; diagonal, bridge sits within the Niobrara State Park, in a wide flange or 2 channels with beautiful, unaltered rural setting at the river's double lacing; top lateral bracing, mouth. four angles with double lacing; lower lateral bracing: one angle; The structure was designed in 1929 by engineers strut, four angles with double la from the Chicago and North Western Railroad cing; floor beam, plate girder. and built by a C&NW construction crew. With an overall length of approximately 1200 feet, it is The trusses are joined on the east by seven steel comprised of three rigid-connected through truss plate girders. Each spans 70 feet and features a es flanked on one side by multiple steel girder through configuration and upper flanges that and timber stringer approach spans. The trusses curve continuously to form the end post. Stiffen- cross the river's main channel next to the west ers for the girder webs are built up from angles bank. Each single-track truss has a span length and plates. Beyond the girders, over the river's of 120 feet and an overall width of slightly more flood plain, are twenty-nine timber stringer ap than 20 feet. The trusses feature a Warren con proach spans, each with a 12-foot length. Unlike figuration, with the upper chords, end posts and the trusses and girders, which are supported by diagonals in compression and the lower chords massive concrete piers, the timber spans are sup and verticals in tension. They use typical design ported by timber pile bents. and detailing for their period of construction. Built up using rolled steel members from the The only modification of note to the bridge's Illinois Steel Company, all the truss members fabric is the removal of the steel rails, which have been machine-riveted in the fabricating shop occurred when the line was abandoned in 1978. and field riveted to the massive gusset plates that The treated timber ties remain in place, with connect them. The components are configured as some minor deterioration where winter snows follows: have accumulated between the girders. The su perstructure, substructure and floor system re superstructure: rigid-connected Warren through truss main otherwise intact. Unmoved and unchanged substructure: concrete abutments and piers with from its original construction, the Niobrara River tapered upstream cutwaters Bridge today retains a high degree of integrity of floor/decking: treated wood railroad ties over two location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, I-beam stringers feeling and association. See continuation sheet 8. Statement of Significance Certifying official has considered the significance of this property in relation to other properties: statewide Applicable National Register Criteria C Criteria Considerations (Exceptions) N/A Areas of Significance Engineering Period of Significance 1929 (The period of significance is derived from the original construc tion date.) Significant Dates 1929 Cultural Affiliation N/A Significant Person N/A Architect/Builder Chicago and North Western Railway State significance of property, and justify criteria, criteria considerations and areas of significance noted above. Fabricated and erected in 1929 by the Chicago floods - typically engender long bridges with rela and North Western Railway, the Niobrara River tively short individual spans. Steel truss construc Bridge illustrates American railroad bridge con tion under these conditions is unnecessarily struction of the 1920s and 1930s. Its three rigid- expensive, with timber pile bridges typically em connected trusses, riveted through girders and ployed as an economical alternative. The Nio timber stringer spans all typify the prevailing civil brara and Missouri rivers, with their steep bluffs engineering trends of the period. Although the and relatively deep channels, call for long individual components of the bridge are represen individual spans supported by substantial piers. tative, the structure as a whole is technologically And longer spans for railroad bridges has typi significant on a statewide basis as one of the few cally meant trusses. It is not coincidental, then, multiple-span railroad truss bridges in Nebraska. that most of the multiple-span railroad trusses in the state are found over the Niobrara and Mis Railroads across the state have historically es souri rivers. Located at the confluence of these chewed all-metal truss construction for their river two major streams, the Niobrara River Bridge is crossings - a reluctance that is rooted primarily distinguished among Nebraska's railroad bridges in economics. Much of Nebraska is characterized for its scale and multiplicity of truss, girder and by flat or gently rolling terrain and lightly slop stringer spans. Exhibiting an exceptionally high ing, shallow watercourses. The Platte, Loup and degree of physical integrity, it ranks as a rarity Republican rivers are noted for their meandering in Nebraska; the bridge is therefore eligible for course and wide floodplains. These conditions - inclusion in the National Register of Historic low banks, shallow water flow under normal con Places under Criterion C for its technological ditions and wide plains to drain the intermittent significance. The latter half of the 19th century marked the opment of states along its route - states such as golden age of railroading in America. Depicting Nebraska. the final, and perhaps most far-reaching, thrust in settling the American West, railroad building The impact of the Union Pacific on Nebraska's epitomized the concept of Manifest Destiny. As socioeconomic development can hardly be over the eastern link in the nation's first transconti stated, but it was not the only railroad to leave nental line, the Union Pacific Railroad spear a lasting legacy in the state. In northeastern headed the western movement in the post-Civil Nebraska, the impetus was to establish railheads War years. The UP had a profound influence on on the