List of crossings of Rock Creek

Several crossings of Rock Creek in 1973. From top to bottom: M Street Bridge, Pennsylvania Avenue Bridge, L Street Bridge, and an outlying span of K Street Bridge
Time-lapse video of a trip on the Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway and Beach Drive in 2015. Many crossings of Rock Creek are visible.

This is a list of crossings of Rock Creek. Rock Creek runs for 31 miles from its source in Montgomery County, Maryland, to its mouth at the Potomac River, of which the final nine miles lies in Washington, D.C. The entirety of Rock Creek downstream of the Maryland border is within Rock Creek Park (except for a small portion that runs through the National Zoo). The crossings built after Rock Creek Park was established in 1890 until World War II tended to be stone-faced bridges constructed to harmonize with the rustic surroundings, while postwar bridges were more utilitarian concrete and steel structures. Of the 35 crossings, 23 are covered by a Historic American Engineering Record (HAER), and two bridges—the gargantuan Taft Bridge and the bucolic Boulder Bridge—are on the National Register of Historic Places.[1]

The first two crossings of Rock Creek were at the sites of the present M Street Bridge (1788) and K Street Bridge (1792), near the mouth of the creek.[2] By the early twentieth century, when the initial plans for the Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway were being made, many of the bridges along its intended path in the lower portion of the valley were utilitarian steel-truss bridges at K Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, M Street, P Street, and Calvert Street, and there was a massive earthen embankment carrying Massachusetts Avenue across the valley, with a tunnel underneath for the creek to pass through. The sole crossing of any architectural value was the monumental 1907 Taft Bridge. Construction of the parkway entailed the replacement of all of these crossings except the Taft Bridge to align with the park's intended aesthetics, and the erecting of many more.[3]

Farther upstream, at the time the upper portion of Rock Creek Park was established in 1890, the area was mainly undeveloped woodland containing small farms and mills accessed by private roads. Most crossings of the creek were fords rather than bridges, with the exception of bridges at Military Road and Peirce Mill. Much of the initial development of the park was overseen by Lansing H. Beach, after whom Beach Drive is named.[1]

Nearly all of the remaining portion of Rock Creek in Maryland is part of Rock Creek Stream Valley Park and Rock Creek Regional Park.[4] This portion of the park was established in 1902. Rock Creek in Maryland flows through densely developed suburbs and is crossed by several major highways.[5]

District of Columbia

Image Crossing Carries Built Length References and notes Coordinates
Thompson Boat Center Footbridge pedestrians 38°54′03″N 77°03′30″W / 38.900965°N 77.058274°W / 38.900965; -77.058274
K Street Bridge K Street and

Whitehurst Freeway

 1939–41 (lower level); 1947–49 (upper level) 497 feet HAER DC-20.
Earlier bridges on the site were built in 1792, 1869, and 1907.		 38°54′09″N 77°03′28″W / 38.902531°N 77.057725°W / 38.902531; -77.057725
L Street Bridge Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway 1981–83 HAER DC-697, pp. 92, 98, NPS Earlier bridges on the site were built ca. 1933 and ca. 1943. 38°54′14″N 77°03′24″W / 38.903978°N 77.056590°W / 38.903978; -77.056590
Pennsylvania Avenue Bridge Pennsylvania Avenue 1915–16 276 feet HAER DC-21.

Portions of the earlier bridge, built 1858–60, are encased inside the current bridge

 38°54′17″N 77°03′22″W / 38.90472°N 77.05611°W / 38.90472; -77.05611
M Street Bridge M Street 1929–30 308 feet HAER DC-37.
Earlier bridges on the site were built in 1788, 1800, 1839, and 1871.		 38°54′19″N 77°03′20″W / 38.90528°N 77.05556°W / 38.90528; -77.05556
P Street Bridge P Street 1933–35 HAER DC-48.
Earlier bridges on the site were built in 1855 and 1871.		 38°54′35″N 77°03′01″W / 38.909588°N 77.050279°W / 38.909588; -77.050279
Bridge near P Street Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway 1935–36 111 feet HAER DC-11 38°54′36″N 77°03′01″W / 38.91000°N 77.05028°W / 38.91000; -77.05028
Dumbarton Bridge Q Street 1915 265 feet HAER DC-38 38°54′39″N 77°3′4″W / 38.91083°N 77.05111°W / 38.91083; -77.05111
Lyon's Mill Footbridge pedestrians 1932–34 88 feet HAER DC-35 38°54′45″N 77°03′15″W / 38.91250°N 77.05417°W / 38.91250; -77.05417
Charles C. Glover Memorial Bridge Massachusetts Avenue 1939–41 420 feet HAER DC-22.
Earlier bridges on the site were built in 1888 and 1901.		 38°55′04″N 77°03′30″W / 38.91778°N 77.05833°W / 38.91778; -77.05833
Saddle Club Footbridge pedestrians 1934 110 feet HAER DC-36 38°55′12″N 77°03′12″W / 38.92000°N 77.05333°W / 38.92000; -77.05333
Shoreham Hill Bridge Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway 1938 220 feet HAER DC-10 38°55′12″N 77°03′10″W / 38.92000°N 77.05278°W / 38.92000; -77.05278
Taft Bridge Connecticut Avenue 1897–1907 901 feet HAER DC-6.

National Register of Historic Places. Site of former Woodley Lane Bridge (HAER DC-24), built 1889.

 38°55′14″N 77°2′59″W / 38.92056°N 77.04972°W / 38.92056; -77.04972
Edgewater Stables Bridge Edgewater Stables driveway 38°55′18″N 77°02′59″W / 38.921752°N 77.049619°W / 38.921752; -77.049619
Duke Ellington Bridge Calvert Street 1933–1935 825 feet HAER DC-23.
Earlier bridge on the site was built in 1891.		 38°55′24″N 77°02′54″W / 38.92333°N 77.04833°W / 38.92333; -77.04833
South Portal Bridge Beach Drive 1966 HAER DC-55, p. 110 38°55′26″N 77°02′55″W / 38.924006°N 77.048661°W / 38.924006; -77.048661
Jewett Street Bridge Jewett Street Internal to National Zoological Park grounds 38°55′41″N 77°02′56″W / 38.927979°N 77.048876°W / 38.927979; -77.048876
Old Harvard Street Bridge National Zoo Drive 1900–1901 148 feet HAER DC-26.
Earlier bridge on the site was built in 1892.		 38°55′39″N 77°02′41″W / 38.92750°N 77.04472°W / 38.92750; -77.04472
New Harvard Street Bridge Harvard Street 1965 HAER DC-53 38°55′41″N 77°02′40″W / 38.92806°N 77.04444°W / 38.92806; -77.04444
Klingle Ford Bridge Klingle Road HAER DC-55, p. 35 38°56′00″N 77°03′02″W / 38.933254°N 77.050464°W / 38.933254; -77.050464
Porter Street Bridge Porter Street 38°56′03″N 77°02′56″W / 38.934189°N 77.049005°W / 38.934189; -77.049005
Bluffs Footbridge pedestrians 1934 90 feet HAER DC-33 38°56′12″N 77°02′52″W / 38.93667°N 77.04778°W / 38.93667; -77.04778
Footbridge near Jusserand Memorial pedestrians 38°56′18″N 77°03′07″W / 38.938361°N 77.051966°W / 38.938361; -77.051966
Peirce Mill Bridge Tilden Street 1872; additions in 1895 and 1921 178 feet HAER DC-28.
Earlier bridge on the site was built in the 1860s. Near Peirce Mill.		 38°56′23″N 77°03′06″W / 38.93972°N 77.05167°W / 38.93972; -77.05167
Blagden Avenue Bridge Beach Drive 1956 107 feet HAER DC-55, p. 10 38°56′38″N 77°02′59″W / 38.943836°N 77.049606°W / 38.943836; -77.049606
Boulder Bridge Beach Drive 1901–02 130 feet HAER DC-12.

National Register of Historic Places

 38°56′54″N 77°02′42″W / 38.94833°N 77.04500°W / 38.94833; -77.04500
Rapids Footbridge pedestrians 1934 110 feet HAER DC-14 38°57′12″N 77°02′37″W / 38.95333°N 77.04361°W / 38.95333; -77.04361
Joyce Road Bridge Joyce Road 1929 54 feet HAER DC-18.
Earlier bridges on the site were built in 1862 and 1905. Also called Old Military Road Bridge.		 38°57′37″N 77°02′32″W / 38.96028°N 77.04222°W / 38.96028; -77.04222
Military Road Bridge Military Road 1955? HAER DC-55, p. 146 38°57′41″N 77°02′36″W / 38.961357°N 77.043426°W / 38.961357; -77.043426
Milkhouse Ford Milkhouse Ford Road (abandoned) 1904 74 feet HAER DC-25.
The only ford remaining in the park		 38°57′53″N 77°02′51″W / 38.96472°N 77.04750°W / 38.96472; -77.04750
Milkhouse Ford Bridge Beach Drive 1956 HAER DC-55, p. 12

Earlier bridge on the site was built in 1926.

 38°57′55″N 77°02′51″W / 38.96528°N 77.04750°W / 38.96528; -77.04750
Rolling Meadow Footbridge pedestrians 1934 94 feet HAER DC-31 38°58′13″N 77°02′41″W / 38.97028°N 77.04472°W / 38.97028; -77.04472
Sherrill Drive Bridge Sherrill Drive 1962 79 feet HAER DC-55, p. 14, 76

Earlier bridge on the site was built in 1924.
Riley Springs Footbridge pedestrians 1934–35 120 feet HAER DC-32 38°58′41″N 77°02′36″W / 38.97806°N 77.04333°W / 38.97806; -77.04333
Kalmia Bridge West Beach Drive 1958 68 feet HAER DC-55, p. 13 38°59′02″N 77°02′34″W / 38.983978°N 77.042868°W / 38.983978; -77.042868
Boundary Footbridge pedestrians 1934–35 127 feet HAER DC-34 38°59′13″N 77°03′08″W / 38.98694°N 77.05222°W / 38.98694; -77.05222

Maryland

Image Crossing Location Notes Coordinates
footbridge Chevy Chase and Silver Spring 38°59′12″N 77°03′25″W / 38.986532°N 77.056898°W / 38.986532; -77.056898
footbridge 38°59′11″N 77°03′29″W / 38.986462°N 77.058067°W / 38.986462; -77.058067
footbridge 38°59′10″N 77°03′39″W / 38.986029°N 77.060910°W / 38.986029; -77.060910
footbridge 38°59′12″N 77°03′44″W / 38.986646°N 77.062294°W / 38.986646; -77.062294
East–West Highway 38°59′34″N 77°03′43″W / 38.992900°N 77.062079°W / 38.992900; -77.062079
Georgetown Branch Trail 38°59′52″N 77°03′45″W / 38.997770°N 77.062637°W / 38.997770; -77.062637
footbridge 39°00′02″N 77°03′43″W / 39.000613°N 77.062015°W / 39.000613; -77.062015
footbridge 39°00′31″N 77°03′44″W / 39.008684°N 77.062273°W / 39.008684; -77.062273
Jones Mill Road 39°00′39″N 77°03′47″W / 39.010701°N 77.062991°W / 39.010701; -77.062991
Capital Beltway Chevy Chase and Silver Spring/South Kensington 39°00′41″N 77°03′50″W / 39.011518°N 77.063903°W / 39.011518; -77.063903
Kensington Parkway Chevy Chase and South Kensington 39°00′30″N 77°04′25″W / 39.008444°N 77.073636°W / 39.008444; -77.073636
Connecticut Avenue Chevy Chase/Bethesda and South Kensington 39°00′25″N 77°04′46″W / 39.006919°N 77.079322°W / 39.006919; -77.079322
Cedar Lane Bethesda and South Kensington 39°00′25″N 77°04′46″W / 39.006919°N 77.079322°W / 39.006919; -77.079322
Beach Drive 39°01′15″N 77°06′00″W / 39.020714°N 77.100040°W / 39.020714; -77.100040
Beach Drive North Bethesda and South Kensington 39°01′36″N 77°05′31″W / 39.026740°N 77.091919°W / 39.026740; -77.091919
Knowles Avenue 39°01′54″N 77°05′14″W / 39.031724°N 77.087348°W / 39.031724; -77.087348
MARC Brunswick Line North Bethesda and South Kensington/North Kensington 39°01′58″N 77°05′06″W / 39.032881°N 77.085094°W / 39.032881; -77.085094
Garrett Park Road North Bethesda and Wheaton 39°02′28″N 77°05′21″W / 39.041093°N 77.089278°W / 39.041093; -77.089278
footbridge 39°02′55″N 77°05′26″W / 39.048726°N 77.090479°W / 39.048726; -77.090479
Randolph Road 39°03′13″N 77°05′28″W / 39.053592°N 77.091102°W / 39.053592; -77.091102
footbridge 39°03′25″N 77°05′36″W / 39.057049°N 77.093344°W / 39.057049; -77.093344
Parklawn Community Garden driveway North Bethesda and Rockville 39°03′48″N 77°05′58″W / 39.063462°N 77.099418°W / 39.063462; -77.099418
Parklawn Cemetery driveway 39°03′54″N 77°06′12″W / 39.064961°N 77.103216°W / 39.064961; -77.103216
Veirs Mill Road 39°04′18″N 77°06′33″W / 39.071709°N 77.109156°W / 39.071709; -77.109156
footbridge Rockville and Aspen Hill 39°05′03″N 77°06′37″W / 39.084169°N 77.110250°W / 39.084169; -77.110250
Baltimore Road Aspen Hill 39°05′24″N 77°06′55″W / 39.090090°N 77.115164°W / 39.090090; -77.115164
Norbeck Road Rockville and Aspen Hill 39°05′38″N 77°07′04″W / 39.094020°N 77.117696°W / 39.094020; -77.117696
footbridge Aspen Hill 39°05′58″N 77°07′07″W / 39.099535°N 77.118477°W / 39.099535; -77.118477
footbridge Aspen Hill and Derwood 39°06′07″N 77°07′16″W / 39.102061°N 77.121098°W / 39.102061; -77.121098
Avery Road 39°06′06″N 77°07′29″W / 39.101700°N 77.124807°W / 39.101700; -77.124807
Southlawn Lane Redland 39°06′22″N 77°07′31″W / 39.106121°N 77.125204°W / 39.106121; -77.125204
footbridge 39°06′51″N 77°07′47″W / 39.114104°N 77.129667°W / 39.114104; -77.129667
Needwood Road 39°07′40″N 77°07′47″W / 39.127639°N 77.129817°W / 39.127639; -77.129817
Intercounty Connector 39°08′09″N 77°07′46″W / 39.135844°N 77.129388°W / 39.135844; -77.129388
Muncaster Mill Road 39°08′09″N 77°07′46″W / 39.135844°N 77.129388°W / 39.135844; -77.129388
Muncaster Road 39°09′15″N 77°07′55″W / 39.154183°N 77.131899°W / 39.154183; -77.131899
Rock Creek Park Road 39°09′38″N 77°07′52″W / 39.160639°N 77.130997°W / 39.160639; -77.130997
Fieldcrest Road 39°11′05″N 77°08′23″W / 39.184660°N 77.139838°W / 39.184660; -77.139838

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) No. DC-55, "Rock Creek Park Road System" History and Description, pp. 3, 5–6, 22–23, 25, 36
  2. ↑ Ross, Amy (1992). Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) No. DC-20, "K Street Bridge" History and Description
  3. ↑ Davis, Timothy (1992). Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) No. DC-697, "Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway" History and Description, pp. 9, 47, 62, 91
  4. ↑ "Rock Creek Hiker–Biker Trail Map" (PDF). Maryland–National Capital Park and Planning Commission. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  5. ↑ "Human History". Rock Creek Conservancy. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
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