| Covered Bridges first appeared in the
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| | outside?
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| U.S. around 1805, but the history of
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| | Historians believe the red coating makes
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| these monuments to another age date back
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| | the bridge seem more like a barn to a
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| thousands of years to China. Covered
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| | horse, and as horses tended to be
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| bridges had also existed in Europe since
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| | skittish about crossing above flowing
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| medieval times and there were once
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| | water, the illusion helped farmers and
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| hundreds of them in Switzerland, Austria
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| | travelers navigate the obstacle with
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| and Germany.
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| | little incident from their four-legged
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| But it's here in the Northeastern U.S.,
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| | friends.
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| where wooden covered bridge design and
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| | THE CHANGING FACE OF THE COVERED BRIDGE
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| construction reached its pinnacle in the
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| | IN NORTH AMERICA
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| nineteenth century. A combination of
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| | As the twentieth century progressed
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| pressing need, plentiful old growth
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| | bridge construction changed and metal
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| northern forests, and sheer Yankee
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| | manufactured truss bridges became first
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| ingenuity, advanced the development of
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| | choice over wood. The ease of
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| wooden covered bridges to a rare
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| | construction, increased strength, and low
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| combination of marvelous engineering
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| | cost of these metal bridges became too
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| feats that were also pleasing to the eye.
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| | overwhelming to ignore for budget
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| WHY SO MANY COVERED BRIDGES IN THE
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| | conscious communities in the U.S.
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| NORTHEAST?
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| | The "work horse" bridges of the 19th
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| The northeast is a region of rivers,
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| | century gave way to economics, and most
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| streams and creeks. As the population
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| | wooden covered bridges in the U.S.
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| surged out away from coastal areas into
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| | quickly disappeared, except for the 800
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| the forested interior, villages sprung up
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| | left for admirers to view today. Though
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| near water sources. The water source was
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| | many of the remaining covered bridges
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| used to power mills in these towns, and
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| | still carry traffic - even cars - most
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| villages often developed on both banks of
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| | are kept and maintained for tourism, and
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| a stream or river. Bridges were the
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| | as a reminder of our heritage.
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| obvious answer to connect these divided
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| | VIEWING OF COVERED BRIDGES...
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| communities, and provide access for
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| | For sheer volume Pennsylvania and Vermont
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| townsfolk to things like school, worship,
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| | take honors, accounting for well over a
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| and supplies.
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| | third of the remaining bridges.
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| But why cover them?
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| | Self-guided tours are also popular in New
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| While much speculation has been put forth
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| | England for covered bridge vacations,
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| on this topic; the simple answer is
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| | particularly in Vermont and New Hampshire
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| protection against the weather for the
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| | where many of the bridges are close to
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| bridge. Here in New England, where I
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| | other destination and attraction spots.
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| live, covered wooden bridges last about
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| | As a covered bridge enthusiast I can tell
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| three times as long as those exposed to
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| | you half the fun is finding the bridges.
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| the elements, and reduce bridge
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| | The major highways bypassed the roads
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| maintenance as well. During the 19th and
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| | where most bridges are located many years
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| early 20th century very few bridges built
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| | ago, making the remoteness of a covered
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| were not covered.
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| | bridge sometimes an adventure in
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| INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT COVERED
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| | locating. While covered bridges make
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| BRIDGES...
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| | ideal photo opportunities there's much
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| Most historians agree the first covered
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| | more to view than just a pretty picture.
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| bridge in America was The Permanent
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| | Experts suggest appreciating the bridge
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| Bridge completed in 1805 in Pennsylvania,
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| | by first taking in the design and massive
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| originally designed by Timothy Palmer
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| | timbers used in the framework. For
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| from New England. The longest known
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| | authentic bridges these timbers came from
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| covered bridge is The Hartland in New
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| | virgin forests where 100 feet high trees
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| Brunswick, Canada, which at 1,282 feet
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| | were common.
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| spans the Saint John River.
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| | As you view an authentic covered bridge
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| But perhaps the most famous covered
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| | remember it was built for a simple
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| bridges are in Madison County, Iowa. The
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| | functional purpose - getting from one
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| Bridges of Madison County used to number
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| | bank to other. But it was constructed
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| 19, but today only six survive. Robert
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| | with the skill and care of craftsmen,
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| James Waller's novel, and the movie of
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| | who've unwittingly left a rich heritage
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| the same name, popularized these bridges
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| | for future generations to enjoy. Treasure
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| to millions worldwide, and also provided
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| | these woodworking masterpieces as you
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| evidence that covered bridges in North
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| | travel rural North America, and
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| America are by no means limited to the
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| | rediscover a symbol of the pioneering
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| Northeast region.
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| | spirit that embraced both U.S. and Canada
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| A question often asked is why so many of
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| | during the nineteenth century.
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| the bridges are painted red on the
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