List of covered bridges in Iowa facts for kids
Iowa is home to some really cool old structures called covered bridges. These bridges are special because they have walls and a roof, making them look like a long, covered hallway over a river or stream. People built roofs on bridges a long time ago to protect the wooden parts from rain and snow. This helped the bridges last much longer!
There are nine authentic covered bridges in Iowa. An "authentic" covered bridge isn't just old. It's built using a special design called a truss. A truss is like a strong framework of triangles that helps the bridge hold a lot of weight. This is different from simpler bridges that might just use long wooden beams. Six of Iowa's covered bridges are also historic, meaning they are very old and important.
What Makes a Covered Bridge Special?
Covered bridges are more than just a way to cross water. They are like a peek into the past! The roof and sides protect the wooden structure from bad weather. This was super important before we had steel and concrete bridges.
How They Are Built
Most authentic covered bridges use a truss system. Imagine a series of triangles connected together. This design is very strong and helps spread out the weight of cars or people crossing the bridge. Some common truss types you might see are the Town lattice or Howe truss.
Famous Covered Bridges in Iowa
Many of Iowa's covered bridges are found in Madison County. This area is so famous for its bridges that it even inspired books and movies!
Cedar Covered Bridge
The Cedar Covered Bridge is near Winterset in Madison County. The original bridge here was built in 1883. Sadly, it was destroyed by arson (someone purposely setting it on fire) in 2004. A new bridge was built in 2019 to replace it. This bridge is 76 feet long and crosses Cedar Creek. It uses a mix of Town and queen truss designs.
Cutler–Donahoe Bridge
Also in Winterset, the Cutler–Donahoe Bridge was first built in 1871. It's 79 feet long and crosses a ditch. This bridge was rebuilt in 1970 and uses a Town lattice truss. It's owned by the City of Winterset.
Hammond Bridge
The Hammond Bridge is located in Marion County, near Hamilton. It was built in 1894 and is 80 feet long. This bridge crosses North Cedar Creek and uses a Howe truss design. It's owned by Marion County.
Hogback Covered Bridge
Another Madison County gem, the Hogback Covered Bridge is near Winterset. Built in 1884, it's one of the longer ones at 106 feet. It crosses the North River and uses a Town lattice truss. Madison County owns this historic bridge.
Holliwell Covered Bridge
The Holliwell Covered Bridge is also in Madison County, close to Winterset. It was built in 1880 and is 113 feet long. This makes it one of the longest covered bridges in Iowa! It crosses the Middle River and uses a Town lattice truss.
Imes Covered Bridge
The Imes Covered Bridge is near St. Charles in Madison County. It was originally built in 1870 and rebuilt in 1887 and 1977. It's 81 feet long and crosses a small brook. This bridge is also known as the King Bridge.
Roseman Covered Bridge
The Roseman Covered Bridge is another famous bridge in Madison County, near Winterset. Built in 1883, it's 107 feet long and crosses the Middle River. It uses a Town lattice truss and is sometimes called the Oak Grove Bridge.
Other Iowa Covered Bridges
Iowa has a few other interesting covered bridges that have their own unique stories.
Marysville and Wilcox Game Preserve Bridges
The Marysville Covered Bridge in Marion County and the Wilcox Game Preserve Covered Bridge in Liberty, also in Marion County, were once part of the same bridge! In 1970, a single bridge built in 1870 was split into two halves and moved to different locations. The Marysville bridge is 41 feet long, and the Wilcox bridge is 40 feet long. Both cross ravines and use a Town lattice truss.
Owens Covered Bridge
The Owens Covered Bridge is in Polk County, near Allen. It was built in 1866, making it one of the oldest covered bridges in Iowa. It is 100 feet long and crosses Yeader Creek. This bridge uses a Howe truss design.
Images for kids
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Cedar Covered Bridge
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Cutler–Donahoe Bridge
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Hammond Bridge
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Hogback Covered Bridge
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Holliwell Covered Bridge
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Imes Covered Bridge
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Roseman Covered Bridge
