Charles Street Bridge, Spanning West River on Charles Street, Providence, Providence County, RI

Significance: The Charles Street Bridge is an early example of the use of prefabricated steel beams (riveted plate girders). The use of prefabricated beams simplified the design and construction of bridges, particularly after 1900. The Charles Street Bridge is the second oldest of four extant prefabricated plat girder highway bridges in Rhode Island that have been listed in, or determined eligible for, listing in the National Register of Historic Places. The bridge was fabricated by R.F. Hawkins Company of Springfield, Massachusetts, a regionally prominent bridge company. The bridge was determined eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places on January 10, 1989. Significant intact features include the bridge's girders, floor beams, decorative railings and stone abutments.
Survey number: HAER RI-34