The covered bridge

The covered bridge evokes visions of a lazy Sunday afternoon drive through an idyllic countryside. But the covered bridge is an increasingly rare attraction, much like so many of the tiny towns to which they stand as gateways.

A vanishing treasure

By the arrival of the 21st century, only one in 10 American covered bridges have survived – though, if built well, they can last up to 100 years. The primary culprit, of course, is the cost to maintain and restore them. Still, their history and their stories are being kept alive by the people and institutions around them, making them beautiful, historic pieces of engineering.

According to Iowa State University’s Institute for Transportation, more than 9,000 covered bridges in the U.S. have been lost since the earliest-known construction date of 1800.

And, according to The National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges’ website, many reasons exist for the advent of these structures, including “providing shelter during inclement weather or so horses wouldn’t be afraid to cross the water. However, the real reason is to protect the structure supporting the bridge. Without protection from the weather, the wooden timbers supporting the bridge would decay and eventually collapse. By keeping them dry, they will last much longer.”

The oldest surviving covered bridge in the U.S. was built in 1825 in Cooperstown, NY, while the longest American bridge is relatively new – built in 2008 in Ashtabula County, OH, it spans 613 feet. Speaking of Ohio, it’s the state with the second most covered bridges, with 148. The top spot can be claimed by Pennsylvania, which has 213.

A blog post on the website of Kansas-based Kaw Valley Engineering says the design of such bridges is simple.

Paint it red for safety, longevity

“Typically, the bridge is a combination of an arch for its load bearing capabilities and truss for rigidity. Patented in 1817, the Burr Arch Truss is the most common design for a covered bridge,” Kaw Valley Engineering’s post explains. “Looking at the historical bridges, you will notice something in common with many covered bridges – the color! Most bridges were painted ‘barn red.’ It would be great to say this was for safety or longevity reasons. But it is simply a cost-cutting measure. Barns, bridges, and other wooden structures were typically painted red in the 1800s because it was cheap to make. All three ingredients were readily available: milk, rust, and lime.”

Though they’re exceedingly rare to view in person, covered bridges appear in pop culture quite a bit – most notably in the critically acclaimed 1995 film “The Bridges of Madison County,” starring Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep, based on the 1992 novel of the same name.

Filmed in Madison County, Iowa’s town of Winterset

Filmed in Madison County, Iowa’s town of Winterset (also the birthplace of Western film icon John Wayne), “The Bridges of Madison County” tells the story of an Italian war bride who lives with her husband and children on a farm in Iowa. When a photographer for National Geographic comes to town to take pictures of the town’s iconic covered bridges, the two strike up a brief but passionate love affair (the book and film would later be adapted into a 2014 musical).

An annual celebration of the past

The real Madison County takes great pride in its storied history and the popularity of its covered bridges, hosting its annual Madison County Covered Bridge Festival. The event, which has taken place each autumn since 1970, features craft demonstrations; food, arts and crafts vendors; live music; an antique car show; and a parade, among other activities. This year’s festival takes place Oct. 12-13 at the Winterset Courthouse Square. In addition, attendees can take bus tours of each of the county’s covered bridges, as well as a stop at a historic schoolhouse.

Past participants in the festival say they enjoy the festival’s small-town charm and the local historical perspective it provides.

“We love the small town feel to Winterset on festival weekend. The town square becomes the hub with a lovely selection of street vendors and shops,” one Facebook user wrote on the festival’s page earlier this summer. “We enjoy visiting the covered bridges, but mostly we have enjoyed how the local community have welcomed us into their family and we have made lifetime friendships.”

Another user wrote, “Can’t wait to roam the countryside again, checking out the bridges, making new friends, and eating good food!”
Events like Winterset’s festival keep alive the memory of the covered bridges that represented a simpler time. It’s a time, according to blogger Linda Hosler, we’ll never regain.