Coburn Covered Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Coburn Covered Bridge
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Coburn Rd. over the Winooski River, East Montpelier, Vermont |
|---|---|
| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1851 |
| Architectural style | queenpost truss |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000260 |
| Added to NRHP | October 9, 1974 |
The Coburn Covered Bridge is a historic covered bridge located in East Montpelier, Vermont. It carries Coburn Road over the Winooski River. This bridge was built way back in 1851, making it the only covered bridge from the 1800s that still stands in the town. Because of its importance, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
Contents
About the Coburn Covered Bridge
The Coburn Covered Bridge is found in the far eastern part of East Montpelier. It's about 2.7 miles (4.3 km) east of the town center. Coburn Road goes north from U.S. Route 2, running alongside the Winooski River before crossing it.
What Makes This Bridge Special?
This bridge is built using a special design called a queenpost truss. Imagine a series of triangles and vertical posts that help support the bridge's weight. This design is very strong and was popular for bridges of this size. The Coburn Covered Bridge also has hidden iron rods to make it even stronger.
The bridge is about 69.5 feet (21.2 meters) long and 16.5 feet (5 meters) wide. Its roadway is 13.5 feet (4.1 meters) wide, which is just enough for one lane of traffic. The bridge rests on strong supports made of concrete and stone.
How Does It Look?
The outside walls of the bridge are covered with vertical wooden boards, reaching about 7 feet (2.1 meters high). The entrances, called portals, are also covered with these boards all the way up. They have a cool, rounded arch shape at the top. The roof of the bridge is made of metal, protecting the wooden structure inside from rain and snow.
In the 1970s, some updates were made to the bridge. The roadway now has three strong steel beams and a concrete floor. This helps the bridge last even longer and safely carry cars today.
A Glimpse into History
The Coburn Covered Bridge was built around 1851. It's the only covered bridge in East Montpelier that has survived from that time period. Covered bridges were very important in the past because they protected the wooden parts of the bridge from bad weather. This made the bridges last much longer than open bridges. The Coburn Covered Bridge is a great example of the engineering and craftsmanship from the mid-19th century.
