Shearer's Covered Bridge, place in Pennsylvania listed on National Register of Historic Places
Shearer's Covered Bridge is a wooden structure built in 1847 using a double Burr arch truss design that spans Big Chiques Creek. It measures about 86 feet long (26 meters) and 15 feet wide (4.6 meters), with a clearance of about 11 feet 6 inches (3.5 meters), and now sits in Manheim Memorial Park.
The bridge was built in 1847 by Jacob Clare and underwent major repairs in 1855 before being relocated to Manheim Memorial Park in 1971. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, recognizing its importance to regional history.
The bridge was named after the Shearer family who lived nearby and cared for its upkeep over the years. The red paint is a traditional feature of Lancaster County bridges and shapes how locals and visitors see the rural landscape.
The bridge sits in Manheim Memorial Park and is freely accessible for visitors to view and photograph from all sides. The park features walking paths and information signs explaining its history and construction, making it an easy stop for day trips.
This is the only bridge in Lancaster County painted entirely in red and one of just three structures in the region with horizontal sideboards. This rare combination of features makes it stand out among the area's historic bridges.
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