Cabin Creek Covered Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Cabin Creek Covered Bridge
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Cabin Creek Covered Bridge
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 Location in Kentucky
Location in the United States
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| Location | Kentucky Highway 984 4.5 miles northwest of Tollesboro, Kentucky |
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| Built | c. 1867 |
| Architectural style | Burr Truss |
| NRHP reference No. | 76000912 |
| Added to NRHP | March 26, 1976 |
The Cabin Creek Covered Bridge is a historic bridge in Kentucky. It stretches 114 feet (about 35 meters) across Cabin Creek. You can find it about 4.5 miles (7.2 km) northwest of Tollesboro on Kentucky Highway 984. The bridge is no longer used by cars, but it's a cool piece of history!
Contents
What is the Cabin Creek Covered Bridge?
The Cabin Creek Covered Bridge is a special type of bridge that has a roof and walls. These covers protect the wooden parts of the bridge from weather like rain and sun. This helps the bridge last much longer.
Building the Bridge
This bridge was built in 1867. It's one of only 13 covered bridges still standing in Kentucky! The way it was built, without siding right under the roof, lets light come in along the whole bridge, like a special window.
Around 1914, a person named Louis Bower made the bridge even stronger. He added an arch on each side to support the structure. This change meant new parts were needed where the arches met the bridge's ends.
Why Build Covered Bridges?
People built covered bridges in Kentucky during the 1800s for a few good reasons. The most important reason was to protect the wood. The cover helped the wooden beams and supports stay dry. This made the bridge last seven to eight times longer than a bridge without a cover.
Who Built the Cabin Creek Bridge?
For a long time, no one officially knew who built the Cabin Creek Bridge. In more recent years, some people thought it was built by Jacob Bower or William Henderson. William Henderson owned land nearby.
However, old records from 1912 suggest the builder was "a Mr. Bryant of Ohio." This was most likely Josiah Bryant, who was famous for building covered bridges in Ohio. The way his other bridges were built matches the style of the Cabin Creek Bridge.
When Was the Bridge Built?
There have been different ideas about when the Cabin Creek Bridge was built.
- Some records from 1912 say that a road company was allowed to cross Cabin Creek in 1870. They also say the bridge was built in 1871.
- However, other information, including newspaper announcements, suggests that the work done by Louis Bower to strengthen the bridge started in September 1907, not 1914. The main construction date is generally accepted as 1867.
What Kind of Bridge Is It?
The Cabin Creek Bridge was once thought to be a "Burr truss" bridge. A Burr truss is a specific design where the road goes between arches, not over them. This design uses triangles to make the bridge very strong.
However, experts now believe the Cabin Creek Bridge is not a true Burr truss. It uses a different, simpler design called a "multiple kingpost" truss. This design also uses triangles to make the bridge sturdy.
Recent History of the Bridge
The Cabin Creek Bridge was closed to cars in 1983. Later, between 2012 and 2014, a company called Arnold M. Graton Associates worked to restore and fix up the bridge.
