| Casselman River Bridge State Park | |
|---|---|
 The bridge's south aspect | |
  Casselman River Bridge State Park Location in Maryland Show map of Maryland Casselman River Bridge State Park Casselman River Bridge State Park (the United States) Show map of the United States | |
| Location | Garrett County, Maryland, United States |
| Nearest town | Grantsville, Maryland |
| Coordinates | 39°41′48″N79°08′37″W / 39.69667°N 79.14361°W /39.69667; -79.14361 |
| Area | 4 acres (1.6 ha)[1] |
| Elevation | 2,113 ft (644 m) |
| Established | 1957 |
| Administered by | Maryland Department of Natural Resources |
| Status | Closed pending bridge repairs scheduled for 2024[2] |
| Designation | Maryland state park |
| Website | Official website |
Casselman's Bridge, National Road | |
 | |
| Location | East of Grantsville on U.S. Route 40 Alternate,Grantsville, Maryland |
| Area | < 1 acre |
| Built | 1813–1814 |
| Architect | David Shriver Jr.[3] |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000391 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | January 29, 1964 |
TheCasselman Bridge is a historic transportation structure on theCasselman River, located immediately east ofGrantsville inGarrett County,Maryland, and preserved by the state of Maryland asCasselman River Bridge State Park.[2][4] The bridge was built in 1813–1814 as part of theNational Road. Historic markers posted at each end read:
Erected 1813 byDavid Shriver Jr.,
Sup't of the "Cumberland Road" (The
National Road). This 80 foot span
was the largest stone arch in America
at the time. It was continuously
used from 1813 to 1933.[5]
The structure, which has also been known as Casselmans Bridge, Castleman's Bridge, and Little Crossings Bridge, was declared aNational Historic Landmark in 1964[6] and placed on theNational Historic Register in 1966.[7]
The 354-foot-long (108 m) stonearch bridge spans 80 feet (24 m) with a 30-foot-high (9.1 m) arch and a roadway width of 48 feet (15 m).[8][9] The bridge was constructed in 1813–1814 to aid in the westward movement through the frontier wilderness west ofCumberland, Maryland. The first wheeled vehicles crossed the bridge in 1815.[10] As a "tidal wave" of western expansion followed the opening of the National Road, Casselman Bridge had heavy traffic that included 10-ton loads drawn by 12-horse teams.[7] A small portion of the original National Road still exists at the approaches to the bridge.[8]
The bridge was strengthened for motorized traffic in 1911 and continued in service as a highway until 1933, when a modern steel span was built nearby to serve what is nowUS Route 40 Alternate.[10] In the 1940s and early 1950s, efforts were made to preserve the bridge when sections started to crumble. The bridge was closed to vehicles in 1953,[11] partially restored by the state in the mid-1950s,[9] and became a state park in 1957.[3] Additional maintenance occurred in 1979, 1996, 2002, and 2012.[12]
In addition to walking over the historic bridge, the state park offers picnicking facilities and fishing inCasselman River. Historic structures to the east of the park includeStanton's Mill, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places,[2] and the restored log cabin craft shops ofSpruce Forest Artisan Village.
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