Bath Covered Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Bath Covered Bridge
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Bath Covered Bridge in 2010
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | Off US 302, NH 10, Bath, New Hampshire |
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| Area | 0.3 acres (0.12 ha) |
| Built | 1832 |
| Architectural style | Burr truss |
| NRHP reference No. | 76000125 |
| Added to NRHP | September 01, 1976 |
The Bath Covered Bridge is a really old and cool bridge in Bath, New Hampshire. It's a special kind of bridge called a covered bridge, which means it has walls and a roof, just like a house! This bridge crosses the Ammonoosuc River.
It was built way back in 1832. That makes it one of the oldest covered bridges still standing in New Hampshire today. Because it's so old and important, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. The bridge also got a big makeover in the 2010s to keep it strong and safe.
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About the Bath Covered Bridge
The Bath Covered Bridge is on the west side of the village of Bath. It helps West Bath Road cross the Ammonoosuc River. Imagine a bridge that's longer than a football field! This bridge is over 390 feet (120 m) long. The part you drive on is about 22 feet (6.7 m) wide.
How the Bridge Was Built
The bridge has four main sections, called spans. These sections are held up by a special design called a Burr truss. A truss is like a strong framework of triangles that helps support the bridge. The bridge rests on stone supports in the river and on the banks. Its sides are covered with wooden boards, giving it that classic covered bridge look.
When the bridge was first built, it only had three sections. But in the 1920s, they made it even stronger. They added a third stone support in the river. They also put in special laminated arches to make the bridge super strong.
History of the Bath Bridge
The Bath Covered Bridge is actually the fifth bridge to be built in this exact spot! People have been crossing the river here since at least 1794.
Challenges and Rebuilding
The first bridge was washed away by a big flood in 1806. More floods took down the next bridges in 1820 and 1826. Then, the fourth bridge was sadly destroyed by a fire in 1830. But the people of Bath kept rebuilding!
Today, the bridge is mostly used by people who live in the area. It doesn't get a lot of busy traffic. In October 2012, the bridge had to close for safety reasons. It needed some serious repairs to its structure and appearance. After 21 months and a lot of work, the bridge reopened in August 2014, ready for more years of use!
