Shearer's Covered Bridge

Shearer's Covered Bridge
Coordinates	40°10′17″N76°23′23″W / 40.1715°N 76.3898°W / 40.1715; -76.3898
Locale	Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
Characteristics
Design	single span, double Burr arch truss
Total length	89 feet (27.1 m)
History
Constructed by	Jacob Clare
Construction start	1847
Shearer's Covered Bridge
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
MPS	Covered Bridges of Lancaster County TR
NRHP reference No.	80003532 [1]
Added to NRHP	December 10, 1980
Location
Interactive map of Shearer's Covered Bridge

The Shearer's Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans the Big Chiques Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. (Chiques Creek was known as Chickies Creek until 2002). ^[2]

The bridge has a single span, wooden, double Burr arch trusses design. It is the only covered bridge in the county painted entirely in red, the traditional color of Lancaster County covered bridges, on both the inside and outside including both approaches. The other all red bridge, Pool Forge Covered Bridge, is only painted on the outside. It is one of only 3 covered bridges in the county with horizontal side boards.

The bridge's WGCB Number is 38-36-31. Added in 1980, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as structure number 80003532. ^[3] It is located at 40°10′17.4″N76°23′23.4″W / 40.171500°N 76.389833°W / 40.171500; -76.389833 (40.17150, -76.38983). ^{[4] [5]}

History

The bridge was built in 1847 by Jacob Clare. It was rebuilt in 1855 and stayed there until it was moved in 1971 to its present location in the Manheim Memorial Park. It is 89 feet long and it's also the only covered bridge that does not allow motor vehicles.

Dimensions

• Length:86 feet (26.2 m) total length
• Width:15 feet (4.6 m) total width
• Overhead clearance:11 feet 6 inches (3.51 m)

Gallery

• 
  View of the bridge from the side
• 
  Three quarters view
• 
  One of the approaches to the bridge
• 
  An inside view of the bridge
• 
  A closeup of the Burr arch truss
• 
  One of the bridge's window
• 
  The bridge's floor boards
• 
  The bridge's ceiling
• 
  History plaque on the bridge
• 
  Approach view from the air
• 
  Side view from the air
• 
  View from the air towards Manheim Central High School

See also

• Burr arch truss
• List of Lancaster County covered bridges

References

• Bickel, Hank (June 23, 2005). "Shearer Bridge". Covered Bridges of the Northeast USA. Retrieved August 4, 2006.
• McCain, Dr. Roger A. "Shearer's Bridge". A Guide to Old Covered Bridges of Southeastern Pennsylvania and nearby areas. Retrieved August 4, 2006.
• "Shearer's Mill Covered Bridge". Lancaster County Pennsylvania Dutch Country Official Visitors Center. Pennsylvania Dutch Convention & Visitors Bureau. 2006. Retrieved July 7, 2006.
• "The Covered Bridges of Lancaster County". Lancaster County, PA Government Portal. County of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. November 9, 2001. Archived from the original on December 26, 2005. Retrieved July 7, 2006.

1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
2. Geographic Names Information System, United States Geological Survey (August 30, 1990). "Geographic Names Information System Feature Detail Report: Chiques Creek" . Retrieved September 5, 2006.
3. "PENNSYLVANIA - Lancaster County". National Register of Historic Places. Retrieved March 20, 2007.
4. Travis, Dale. "38-36-31". Round Barns & Covered Bridges. Retrieved August 8, 2006.
5. Susan M. Zacher (1980). National Register of Historic Places Registration: Pennsylvania MPS Shearer's Covered Bridge. National Archives and Records Administration. Retrieved December 23, 2025. (Downloading may be slow.)