Pope Street Bridge

Pope Street Bridge is a stone arch structure spanning the Napa River with three arches built from locally quarried stone, measuring about 175 feet across and 18 feet wide. The bridge remains in active use, carrying vehicle and foot traffic across the river today.

The structure was built in 1894 by engineer R. H. Pithie and holds the distinction of being Napa County's oldest stone bridge. It was designed originally for horse-drawn carriages but has served multiple generations of transportation needs.

The bridge is named after the street it connects and serves as a working part of the community's daily movement through town. Visitors crossing it experience the craftsmanship of the stone arches firsthand.

The bridge is easily reached on foot from downtown St. Helena via Pope Street and is accessible at any time of day. Pedestrians should watch for vehicle traffic when crossing, as it remains an active thoroughfare.

The bridge survived the 1906 earthquake entirely without damage, making it one of the few structures in the region that endured that disaster without structural harm. This resilience speaks to the quality of its construction methods.

Location: St. Helena

GPS coordinates: 38.51140,-122.45500

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:43