Virginia Department of Historic Resources Virginia Department of Historic Resources
For additional information, read the Nomination Form PDF
VLR Listing Date 04/15/1975
NRHP Listing Date 06/10/1975
NRHP Reference Number 75002037
Constructed in 1893-94, the 200-foot single-span Meems Bottom Covered Bridge, crossing the Shenandoah River, is the longest of the Commonwealth’s handful of remaining covered bridges. Probably constructed by John W. V. Woods for F. H. Wisler, the bridge is approached from the east by a tree-lined axial avenue across the flat fields of Meems Bottom from whence the bridge derives its name. The structural system employed is a Burr arch-truss or king-post arch system, which consists of two great wooden arches spanning the full distance between the abutments. The Shenandoah County bridge was damaged by fire in 1976, but the structural timbers survived with only charring. The frame was extensively repaired and strengthened, and recovered with roofing and weatherboards by the Virginia Department of Transportation, allowing the bridge to be returned to limited use.
Many properties listed in the registers are private dwellings and are not open to the public, however many are visible from the public right-of-way. Please be respectful of owner privacy.
Abbreviations:
VLR: Virginia Landmarks Register
NPS: National Park Service
NRHP: National Register of Historic Places
NHL: National Historic Landmark
Updated: June 16, 2021
