Conley's Ford Covered Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Conley's Ford Covered Bridge |
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Conley's Ford Covered Bridge
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| Coordinates | 39°39′33.8″N 87°7′58.7″W / 39.659389°N 87.132972°W |
| Carries | County Road 550 E. |
| Crosses | Big Raccoon Creek |
| Locale | Raccoon Township, Parke County, Indiana |
| Official name | Conley's Ford Bridge |
| Named for | Conley's Ford |
| Maintained by | Parke County |
| WGCB # | 14-61-02 |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Double Burr arch truss bridge |
| Material | Concrete (foundations) |
| Trough construction | Wood |
| Total length | 212 ft (64.6 m) (includes 10 ft (3.0 m) overhangs on each end) |
| Width | 16 ft (4.9 m) |
| Longest span | 192 ft (58.5 m) |
| Number of spans | 1 |
| Load limit | 5 short tons (4.5 t; 10,000 lb) |
| Clearance above | 13 ft (4.0 m) |
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Conley's Ford Covered Bridge (#7)
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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| Built | 1906–1907 |
| Built by | J. L. Van Fossen |
| Part of | Parke County Covered Bridges TR (ID64000193) |
| NRHP reference No. | 78000388 |
| Added to NRHP | December 22, 1978 |
The Conley's Ford Covered Bridge is a historic bridge in Parke County, Indiana. It was built in 1906 by J. Lawrence Van Fossen. This bridge crosses the Big Raccoon Creek on County Road 550 East. It is a special type of bridge called a Burr Arch Truss structure.
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What Makes Conley's Ford Bridge Special?
Most covered bridges in Parke County were made from poplar wood. But Conley's Ford Bridge is different! It was built using strong white pine wood. This makes it unique among its neighbors.
This bridge is also very long. It is known as the world's fourth longest covered bridge with a single span.
A National Historic Place
In 1978, the Conley's Ford Covered Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of places in the United States that are important to history. Being on this list helps protect the bridge for future generations.
Bridge Updates Over Time
In 1991, the bridge got some updates. Its sides were replaced, and it received a new roof. The openings at each end of the bridge, called "portals," were also changed. They were updated from "Daniels Portals" to "Britton Portals."
The date on the bridge was also changed. It now shows "1907" instead of "1906-07." Old photos show that the names of the people who helped build it were once on the portals. This included the builder and county officials.
Images for kids
