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Shelby Stone Arch

Stone Arch Bridge over Silver Creek
Shelby, Shelby County, Iowa

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name Shelby Stone Arch
Built By Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad
Contractor Unknown
Currently Owned By Iowa DNR
Length 35 Feet Total
Width 1 Track, 2 Trail Lanes
Height Above Ground 20 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Stone Arch
Substructure Type Stone Masonry
Date Built 1883
Traffic Count 0 Trains/Day (Bridge is a Trail)
Current Status Rails to Trails
Significance Moderate Significance
Documentation Date October 2015 (Photos 1-6), May 2017 (Photos 7-12)


This large stone arch carries the Old Stone Arch Nature Trail across Silver Creek.
Built in 1883, this is one of the largest stone arches that the Rock Island built in Iowa.
One unusual feature of the bridge is the wing walls, which are not standard. They are much larger than similar structures.
Unfortunately, a lot of the north face has been destroyed by vandals. A date likely still exists on the south face.

The bridge has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is considered a local landmark. The author has ranked the bridge as being moderately significant, due to the large design.
It can be accessed from Hackberry Road. The photo above is an overview.

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date Shelby County
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele