Landis Mill Covered Bridge

The Landis Mill Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans the Little Conestoga Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. A county-owned and maintained bridge, its official designation is the Little Conestoga #1 Bridge.[1] The bridge, built in 1873 by Elias McMellen, is today surrounded by a development, shopping center, and highways on the boundary of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.[2] At 53 feet (16.2 m), it is the shortest covered bridge in the county.[3]

Landis Mill Covered Bridge
Coordinates	40.0680°N 76.3448°W
Locale	Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
Official name	Little Conestoga #1 Bridge
Characteristics
Design	single span, double pyramidal-shaped Burr-type truss, multiple king post truss
Total length	53 feet (16.2 m)
History
Constructed by	Elias McMellen
Construction start	1873
Location

The bridge has a single span, wooden, double pyramidal-shaped Burr-type trusses and multiple king post truss design with the addition of steel hanger rods. It is the only bridge in the county to use this design. The deck is made from oak planks.[1] It is painted red, the traditional color of Lancaster County covered bridges, on both the inside and outside. Both portals to the bridge are painted in red with white trim.

The bridge's WGCB Number is 38-36-16. In 1980 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places as structure number 80003526.[4] It is located at 40°4′4.8″N 76°20′41.4″W (40.06800, -76.34483). It can be found northwest of Lancaster on Shreiner Road one block West of the Park City Center shopping mall.[3][5][6]

History

Landis Mill Covered Bridge was built in 1873 by Elias McMellen at a cost of $969. McMellen, who built many of Lancaster's covered bridges using the Burr arch truss, chose to build this short bridge using a simpler design with multiple kingpost trusses and, instead of Burr arches, pyramidal-shaped trusses to add additional support.[3] The bridge has remained despite the development of the surrounding countryside. Landis Mill Covered Bridge crosses the Little Conestoga Creek just a block west of Park City Mall. Built in 1873, this covered bridge uses the Kingpost Truss, no arches, and at only 53 feet long, this is the shortest covered bridge in Lancaster county.

Dimensions[1]

• Length: 41 feet (12.5 m) span and 53 feet (16.2 m) total length[2]
• Width: 13 feet (4.0 m) clear deck and 15 feet (4.6 m) total width[2]
• Overhead clearance: 10 feet 6 inches (3.2 m)
• Underclearance: 8 feet (2.4 m)

Gallery

• 
  One of the approaches to the bridge
• 
  Side view
• 
  Three quarters view
• 
  Inside of the bridge showing the Multiple kingpost truss and the Burr-type pyramidal-shaped support truss design
• 
  Closeup of the truss joint
• 
  The bridge identification sign inside the bridge
• 
  One of the inside corners of the bridge with the roof

References

1. "Landis Mill Covered Bridge". Lancaster County, PA Government Portal. County of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. 2001-10-20. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2006-07-07.
2. Dr. Roger A. McCain. "Landis Mill Bridge". A Guide to Old Covered Bridges of Southeastern Pennsylvania and nearby areas. Archived from the original on 2006-09-07. Retrieved 2006-08-03.
3. "Landis Mill Covered Bridge". Lancaster County Pennsylvania Dutch Country Official Visitors Center. Pennsylvania Dutch Convention & Visitors Bureau. 2006. Retrieved 2006-07-07.
4. "PENNSYLVANIA - Lancaster County". National Register of Historic Places. Retrieved 2007-03-20.
5. Bickel, Hank (2005-06-23). "Landis Bridge". Covered Bridges of the Northeast USA. Retrieved 2006-08-04.
6. Travis, Dale. "38-36-16". Round Barns & Covered Bridges. Retrieved 2006-08-08.