Bridges (MD)

Melvin "Mel" Collins was passionate about the history of Western Maryland, in particular the architectural history, and was a photographer and collector. This collection covers the bridges of Allegany County, Maryland, both Mel's photographs and older historical photographs. 

This collection of photographic negatives of the stone bridges over the Antietam Creek in Washington County, Maryland taken before 1910 was made available by Bob Savitt of the Washington County Historical Society. The collection also includes newspaper articles about the construction of the bridges.

The bridge over the Casselman River near Grantsville in Garrett County, started in 1813 and completed in 1815, was at one time the longest single span stone arch bridge in the United States. The bridge was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1963 and is owned by the State of Maryland and preserved as part of the Casselman Bridge State Park.