List of covered bridges in Illinois facts for kids

Illinois is home to nine amazing covered bridges. These special bridges are not just old; they are built in a unique way! An authentic covered bridge uses strong structures called trusses to hold itself up. This is different from other bridges that might use simpler beams. Five of these bridges are even considered historic, meaning they have been around for a very long time.

What Makes a Covered Bridge Special?

Covered bridges are like tunnels made of wood that help people cross rivers and streams. The roof and sides protect the wooden parts of the bridge from rain, snow, and sun. This helps the bridge last much longer. Imagine if your house didn't have a roof – it wouldn't last very long, right? The same idea applies to these bridges!

How Covered Bridges Are Built

The main secret behind a strong covered bridge is its truss system. A truss is a framework of triangles, which are very stable shapes. These triangles help spread out the weight of cars and people, making the bridge super strong. Different types of trusses have cool names like Howe, Burr, or King Post, depending on how their wooden pieces are arranged.

Exploring Illinois' Covered Bridges

Each covered bridge in Illinois has its own story and unique features. Here's a look at some of them:

Name	Image	County	Location	Built	Length	Crosses	Ownership	Truss Type	Fun Facts
Captain Swift Covered Bridge		Bureau	Princeton 41°22′44″N 89°29′52″W / 41.37889°N 89.49778°W / 41.37889; -89.49778 (Captain Swift Covered Bridge)	2007	128 feet (39 m)	Bureau Creek		Pratt variant and arches	A newer bridge, but built in the old style!
Jackson Covered Bridge		Cumberland	Greenup 39°14′20″N 88°11′14″W / 39.23889°N 88.18722°W / 39.23889; -88.18722 (Jackson Covered Bridge)	2000	192 feet (59 m)	Embarras River		Multiple king and arch	One of the longer covered bridges in Illinois.
Mary's River Covered Bridge		Randolph	Chester 37°56′55″N 89°45′57″W / 37.94861°N 89.76583°W / 37.94861; -89.76583 (Mary's River Covered Bridge)	1854, restored 1954 and 2005	98 feet (30 m)	Little Marys River	Illinois DOT	Burr	This bridge has been restored twice to keep it strong!
Oquawka Wagon Bridge		Henderson	Oquawka 40°53′39″N 90°56′57″W / 40.89417°N 90.94917°W / 40.89417; -90.94917 (Oquawka Wagon Bridge)	1866, restored 1982	106 feet (32 m)	Henderson Creek	State of Illinois	Burr	Also known as Allaman or Eames Bridge.
Red Covered Bridge		Bureau	Princeton 41°24′59″N 89°28′43″W / 41.41639°N 89.47861°W / 41.41639; -89.47861 (Red Covered Bridge)	1863	93 feet (28 m)	Big Bureau Creek	Illinois DOT	Howe	A very famous red bridge!
Rockford Bolt Co.		Boone	North Caledonia 42°24′41″N 88°56′22″W / 42.41139°N 88.93944°W / 42.41139; -88.93944 (Rockford Bolt Co. Covered Bridge)	1890	75 feet (23 m)	Kinnikinnick Creek	Private	Howe	Also called Young Covered Bridge, it's privately owned.
Stickelback Covered Bridge		Kendall	Newark 41°35′9″N 88°35′20″W / 41.58583°N 88.58889°W / 41.58583; -88.58889 (Stickelback Covered Bridge)	2020	45 feet (14 m)	Stream		Town	One of the newest covered bridges in Illinois.
Sugar Creek Covered Bridge		Sangamon	Chatham 39°38′25″N 89°39′43″W / 39.64028°N 89.66194°W / 39.64028; -89.66194 (Sugar Creek Covered Bridge)	1827 or 1880, restored 1965	58 feet (18 m)	Sugar Creek	Illinois DOT	Multiple king with arch	Also known as Glenarm or Hedley Bridge.
Thompson Mill Covered Bridge		Shelby	Cowden 39°15′30″N 88°49′5″W / 39.25833°N 88.81806°W / 39.25833; -88.81806 (Thompson Mill Covered Bridge)	1868	105 feet (32 m)	Kaskaskia River	Illinois DOT	Howe	Also called Dry Point Bridge.
Wolf Covered Bridge		Knox	Haw Creek 40°51′24″N 90°6′36″W / 40.85667°N 90.11000°W / 40.85667; -90.11000 (Wolf Covered Bridge)	1999	102 feet (31 m)	Spoon River		Howe	This bridge replaced an older covered bridge from 1865.

See also

• List of bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in Illinois
• List of covered bridges in the United States
• World Guide to Covered Bridges