Historic Structures Report, Part I, The Burnside Bridge, Antietam National Battlefield Site
Lessem HI and Franzen AW. 1964. Historic Structures Report, Part I, The Burnside Bridge, Antietam National Battlefield Site. Historic Structure Report. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Antietam National Battlefield Site
This report contains administrative data, historical data, and architectural data for the Burnside Bridge, a historically significant structure during the 1862 Battle of Antietam. It functions as an interpretive feature and a landmark within the historic scene at Antietam National Battlefield. A rehabilitation and restoration project is proposed to repoint all joints, stabilize the joints and abutments, and remove concrete coping on the walls to be replaced with wood. This was aimed at replacing aspects of stabilization repairs that had been made in 1955 in a way that more closely approximates the 1862 appearance. The historical data section presents what is know about the bridge from the year of its original construction until the time of this report. John Weaver (Wever) was awarded a contract to build the stone bridge at the site selected by the Washington County Commissioners. The contract was completed by 1836, and the bridge had undergone relatively few changes since that time. During the Civil War Battle of Antietam, a delay in the initial Union efforts to seize the structure decisively impacted the outcome of the engagement. The bridge remained in county ownership until it was deeded to the United States for $1.00 in 1933. The architectural survey report documents the characteristics of the structure, which is constructed of faced rubble masonry with three elliptical arch spans. The report contains sketches and photographs that were prepared to show data collected at the site and to support the construction project.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Lessem, Harold; Franzen, Archie
- Date of Issue
- 1964-05
- Publisher
- U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
- Units
- ANTI , NCR
- Keywords
- Civil War, construction proposal, General Burnside, interpretive feature, John Weaver, John Wever, McClellan, parapet, parapet coping, Rohrback's Bridge, Sharpsburg, Washington County Commissioners
- Subjects
- CRIS-HS: 000028: Burnside Bridge