Rapps Bridge, Covered bridge in Chester County, Pennsylvania
Rapps Bridge is a wooden covered structure that crosses French Creek with fieldstone abutments and distinctive horizontal siding at both ends. The construction spans about 105 feet and displays the structural elements common to bridges from this building period.
Benjamin F. Hartman built this bridge in 1866 using Burr truss construction, a method common for wooden bridges of that era. It gained recognition on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
The bridge represents nineteenth-century American engineering methods, showcasing the traditional building techniques used throughout Pennsylvania's rural communities.
After extensive repairs following damage from a truck accident in 2014, the bridge reopened to traffic in 2015. Visitors can drive across or walk to experience the historic structure up close.
Rapps Bridge stands as one of only fifteen remaining historic wooden covered bridges within Chester County's boundaries, spanning two acres of land.
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