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