High Bridge (Appomattox River)
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High Bridge
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High Bridge over the Appomattox River near Farmville, Virginia. Photographed in 1865 by Timothy H. O'Sullivan during repairs following its burning during the war.
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| Nearest city | Farmville, Virginia |
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| Coordinates | 37°18′41″N 78°19′6″W / 37.31139°N 78.31833°WCoordinates: 37°18′41″N 78°19′6″W / 37.31139°N 78.31833°W |
| Area | 16 acres (6.5 ha) |
| Built | 1854 |
| Built by | Virginia Bridge & Iron Co. |
| NRHP reference # | 08000875 |
| VLR # | 024-0056 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | September 12, 2008 |
| Designated VLR | June 19, 2008 |
High Bridge is a historic former railroad bridge across the Appomattox River valley about 6 miles (9.7 km) east, or downstream, of the town of Farmville in Prince Edward County, Virginia. The bridge was originally integral to the Southside Railroad between Petersburg and Lynchburg.
As the site of the Battle of High Bridge in April 1865, the bridge played a pivotal role in Lee's retreat in the final days of the American Civil War – and ultimately the war's outcome.
Rebuilt after the Civil War to its former dimensions, the 21-span structure was 2,400 feet (730 m) long at a maximum height of 160 feet (49 m) above the Appomattox River Valley – though is currently unusable for traffic. By 2005 its then-owner, Norfolk Southern, had abandoned the corridor, subsequently giving 33 miles of the line to the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). High Bridge opened to the public on April 6, 2012, the 147th anniversary of the Battle of High Bridge.
The remains of the bridge and its adjacent rail line are now a rail trail park, High Bridge Trail State Park, with a completed trail open to hiking, biking and horse back riding for 16 miles on either side of the former bridge.
In the 1850s, the Southside Railroad built a rail line between Petersburg and Lynchburg, passing through Farmville between Burkeville and Pamplin City. The route, subsidized by a contribution from Farmville, required an expensive crossing of the Appomattox River valley, at a site near property known as Overton farm.
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