Kurtz's Mill Covered Bridge facts for kids
The Kurtz's Mill Covered Bridge is a special kind of bridge called a covered bridge. It stretches over Mill Creek inside the Lancaster County Park in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. You might also hear it called by other names like the County Park Covered Bridge or Baer's Mill Covered Bridge. This bridge is open for cars to drive across within the park.
Quick facts for kids Kurtz's Mill Covered Bridge |
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| Coordinates | 40°00′49″N 76°17′00″W / 40.0135°N 76.2833°W |
| Locale | Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | single span, double Burr arch truss |
| Total length | 94 feet (28.7 m) |
| History | |
| Constructed by | W. W. Upp |
| Construction begin | 1876 |
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Contents
What Makes This Bridge Special?
This bridge has a unique design. It uses a single span, which means it crosses the creek without any supports in the middle. It's built with strong wooden parts called double Burr arch trusses. A Burr arch truss is a special way of building bridges using both arches and criss-cross beams to make them super strong. Steel rods are also added to help hold it all together.
The bridge's floor is made from tough oak wood. It's painted a bright red color, which is a common and traditional color for many covered bridges in Lancaster County. Even the paths leading up to the bridge are painted red with white edges.
A Look at the Bridge's History
The Kurtz's Mill Covered Bridge was first built in 1876. A builder named W. W. Upp was in charge of constructing it. When it was first built, it crossed the Conestoga River.
In 1972, a big storm called Hurricane Agnes caused a lot of flooding. The floodwaters damaged the bridge. But don't worry, it was fixed! In 1975, a person named David Esh repaired it. After the repairs, the bridge was moved to its current spot in the Lancaster County Park. Now, it crosses Mill Creek, which is a smaller stream that flows into the Conestoga River.
How Big Is the Bridge?
Here are some interesting facts about the bridge's size:
- Length: The main part of the bridge that spans the creek is about 94 feet (28.7 meters) long. The total length of the bridge is about 90 feet (27.4 meters).
- Width: The part where cars drive is about 11 feet 8 inches (3.56 meters) wide. The total width of the bridge is about 15 feet (4.6 meters).
- Overhead Clearance: If you're driving a tall vehicle, you have about 11 feet 6 inches (3.51 meters) of space above you.
- Underclearance: The space from the bottom of the bridge to the water below is about 19 feet 6 inches (5.94 meters).
Gallery
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A metal nameplate describing history of the bridge
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A view of the side of the bridge showing the surrounding forest
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One of the approaches to the bridge
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The inside of the bridge showing the Burr arch truss
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The underside of the bridge
