A Little-Known Slice Of Ohio History Can Be Found At This Unique Roadside Bridge
By Sarah McCosham|Published April 02, 2024
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Sarah McCosham
Author
I write like it's my job - because it is! I have a Master's in English and love words: crossword puzzles, Scrabble games, Wordle, and, of course, good, old-fashioned books.
I'm a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState, and a contributing writer at Cincinnati Magazine. I love the Great Outdoors and am endlessly awestruck by this beautiful country of ours. Coffee keeps me going, yoga keeps me sane, my kids keep me grounded, and my writing keeps me inspired.
Ohio is home to some truly unique bridges. There’s the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge, an architectural marvel spanning 1,057 feet between Cincinnati, Ohio, and Covington, Kentucky, that was inspiration for the acclaimed Brooklyn Bridge. There’s an entire covered bridge trail in Ashtabula County, and historic spans like the 140-year-old Zoar Iron Bridge. Ohio is also home to both the world’s smallest covered bridge and the longest span, single-tower S-shaped suspension bridge. That’s a lot of bridges! Today, though, we’re shining the spotlight on a hidden gem: the Peters Creek S-Bridge, a unique bridge in (ahem) Cambridge that dates back to 1828 and offers a little-known slice of Ohio history.
The Historic National Road stretches across six states from Maryland to Illinois. The road bisects the center of Ohio, extending 225 miles from the West Virginia state line at the Ohio River to the Indiana state line.
The historic byway is lined with "pike towns" that arose as stopping points for foot and horse powered traffic in the early 19th century. These forms of transportation were replaced by railroads and canalways in the mid-1800s; however, the invention of the modern bicycle and the modern automobile, both in 1885, sparked a renewed interest in roads, including the National Road.
Most of the alignment of the National Road was incorporated into US 40 when the national route system went into effect in 1926. Today, the road stands as a testament to Ohio - and US - history, offering lots of opportunities for fun and historic "detours" along the way.
Eastern Ohio’s section of the National Road was built in the late 1820s and serves as a quieter and more scenic alternative to I-70. This section is rife with history and full of fascinating points of interest (these old mile markers are especially compelling!).
The bridge's unique "s" shape isn't for show; it was designed as such because the road crossed the creek at an angle; back then, a straight, parallel bridge would have been much more expensive and difficult to pull off.
In addition to the unique bridge and original mile markers, portions of this section of the route feature bricks laid during World War I. As someone fascinated by this era in American history, I love this tangible connection to the past. What a fun detour... and immersive lesson in Ohio history!
Here at OnlyInYourState, we like to make the “journey” as much of an experience as the destination. So the next time you find yourself road tripping through east-central Ohio, make a detour to the unique Peters Creek S-Bridge for a delightful little history lesson.
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