Editing Pool Forge Covered Bridge

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox bridge
|bridge_name   = Pool Forge Covered Bridge
|native_name   = 
|image         = Pool Forge Covered Bridge Three Quarters View HDR 3008px.jpg
|image_size    = 300px
|alt           = 
|caption       = 
|official_name = 
|other_name    =
|carries       = 
|crosses       = 
|locale        = Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
|maint         = 
|id            = 
|designer      = 
|design        = single span, double [[Burr arch truss]]
|material      = 
|spans         = 
|pierswater    = 
|mainspan      = 
|length        = {{convert|99|ft|m|1}}
|width         = 
|height        = 
|load          = 
|clearance     = 
|below         = 
|traffic       = 
|builder       = [[Levi Fink]] and [[Elias McMellen]]
|begin         = 1859
|complete      = 
|open          = 
|coordinates   = {{coord|40.1297|-75.9768|type:landmark_region:US-PA |display=inline,title}}
}}
The '''Pool Forge Covered Bridge''' is a [[covered bridge]] that spans the [[Conestoga River]] in [[Lancaster County, Pennsylvania|Lancaster County]], [[Pennsylvania]], [[United States]].  The [[bridge]] is now on private property where it was once used as a storage barn before the owner added a road to receive vehicle traffic.

The bridge has a single span, wooden, double [[Burr arch truss]]es design with the addition of steel hanger rods.  It is painted entirely red, the traditional color of [[List of Lancaster County covered bridges|Lancaster County covered bridges]] on the outside.  The inside of the bridge is not painted.  Both approaches to the bridge are painted in red without any of the traditional white paint.

The bridge's [[World Guide to Covered Bridges|WGCB]] Number is 38-36-01.  Added in 1980, it is listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] as structure number 80003510.<ref name="register">{{cite web
  | title = PENNSYLVANIA  - Lancaster County
  | work = National Register of Historic Places
  | url = http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/PA/Lancaster/state4.html
  | accessdate = 2007-03-20}}</ref>  It is located at {{coord|40|7|46.8|N|75|58|36.6|W|type:city}} (40.12967, -75.97683).<ref name="Travis">{{cite web
  | author = Travis, Dale 
  | title = 38-36-12
  | work = Round Barns & Covered Bridges
  | date = 
  | url = http://www.dalejtravis.com/bridge/pennsylv/htm/3803601.htm
  | accessdate = 2006-08-08 }}</ref>

It is included in the [[Poole Forge]] historic district as a contributing structure.<ref name="arch">{{cite web| url = https://www.dot7.state.pa.us/ce/SelectWelcome.asp| title = National Historic Landmarks & National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania| publisher = CRGIS: Cultural Resources Geographic Information System| format = Searchable database}} ''Note:'' This includes {{cite web| url = {{NRHP-PA|H070881_01H.pdf}}| title = National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Poole Forge| accessdate = 2012-02-18| author = Joan Fleckenstein| format = PDF| date= November 1992}}</ref>

== History ==
The bridge was built in 1859 by [[Levi Fink]] and [[Elias McMellen]].

== Dimensions ==
*'''Length:''' {{convert|99|ft|m|1}} total length
*'''Width:''' {{convert|15|ft|m|1}} total width

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
Image:Pool Forge Covered Bridge Three Quarters View HDR 3008px.jpg|A three-quarters view of the bridge
Image:Pool Forge Covered Bridge Three Quarters View 3008px.jpg|Another three-quarters view showing the same bridge approach.
Image:Pool Forge Covered Bridge Side View HDR 3200px.jpg|One of the sides of the bridge
Image:Pool Forge Covered Bridge Side View HDR 3000px.jpg|The other side of the bridge
Image:Pool Forge Covered Bridge First Approach HDR 2950px.jpg|The approach to the bridge closest to the main road
Image:Pool Forge Covered Bridge Second Approach 3000px.jpg|The approach farthest away from the main road entrance
Image:Pool Forge Covered Bridge Inside View HDR 3264px.jpg|The Burr arch truss design on the inside of the bridge
Image:Pool Forge Covered Bridge Inside Burr Arch Truss 3264px.jpg|A closer look at the Burr arch truss
Image:Pool Forge Covered Bridge Steel Rods 3264px.jpg|An example of the bridge's steel hanger rods
Image:Pool Forge Covered Bridge Underside HDR 3008px.jpg|The bridge's underside structure
Image:Pool Forge Covered Bridge Underside Abutment HDR 3008px.jpg|The underside of the bridge showing where the Burr arch meets the concrete bridge abutment.  The concrete bridge in the background bypasses this bridge.
Image:Pool Forge Covered Bridge Underside Joint HDR 3008px.jpg|An underside bridge joint showing the Burr arch truss design.
Image:Pool Forge Covered Bridge-from above-2020a.jpg|A view from above as you approach the bridge
Image:Pool Forge Covered Bridge-from above-2020.jpg|A view from above
</gallery>

== See also ==
*[[Burr Truss|Burr arch truss]]
*[[List of crossings of the Conestoga River]]
*[[List of Lancaster County covered bridges]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
*{{cite web
 |author      = McCain, Dr. Roger A.
 |title       = Pool Forge Bridge
 |work        = A Guide to Old Covered Bridges of Southeastern Pennsylvania and nearby areas
 |url         = http://william-king.www.drexel.edu/top/bridge/CBPool.html
 |accessdate  = 2006-08-04
 |url-status     = dead
 |archiveurl  = https://web.archive.org/web/20060907091409/http://william-king.www.drexel.edu/top/bridge/CBPool.html
 |archivedate = 2006-09-07
}}
*{{cite web
  | title = Pool Forge Covered Bridge 
  | work = Lancaster County Pennsylvania Dutch Country Official Visitors Center
  | publisher = Pennsylvania Dutch Convention & Visitors Bureau
  | year = 2006
  | url = http://www.padutchcountry.com/member_pages/pool_forge_covered_bridge.asp
  | accessdate = 2006-07-07 }}
*{{cite web
 |title       = The Covered Bridges of Lancaster County
 |work        = Lancaster County, PA Government Portal
 |publisher   = County of Lancaster, Pennsylvania
 |date        = 2001-11-09
 |url         = http://www.co.lancaster.pa.us/lanco/cwp/view.asp?a=15&Q=257050
 |accessdate  = 2006-07-07
 |url-status     = dead
 |archiveurl  = https://web.archive.org/web/20051226225247/http://www.co.lancaster.pa.us/lanco/cwp/view.asp?a=15&Q=257050
 |archivedate = 2005-12-26
}}

{{commons category|Pool Forge Covered Bridge}}

{{National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania}}
{{NRHP bridges}}
{{Crossings navbox
|structure       = Bridges
|place           = [[Conestoga River]]
|bridge          = Pool Forge Covered Bridge
|bridge signs    =
|upstream        = 
|upstream signs  =
|downstream      = [[Weaver's Mill Covered Bridge]]
|downstream signs = 
}}

[[Category:Bridges completed in 1859]]
[[Category:Covered bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Bridges over the Conestoga River]]
[[Category:Covered bridges in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Road bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Wooden bridges in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Burr Truss bridges in the United States]]