List of covered bridges in Michigan facts for kids
Have you ever seen a bridge with a roof and walls? These are called covered bridges! They look like long, wooden tunnels over a river or stream. Long ago, these roofs and walls helped protect the wooden parts of the bridge from rain, snow, and sun. This made the bridges last much longer.
Michigan has some really cool covered bridges. Some of them are very old and are listed on special lists like the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important parts of history that should be protected. Others are newer but still built in the old style. Let's explore some of Michigan's amazing covered bridges!
Contents
Michigan's Historic Covered Bridges
Michigan is home to several unique covered bridges. Each one has its own story and special features.
Ackley Covered Bridge
The Ackley Covered Bridge is a very old bridge. It was first built way back in 1832! This bridge isn't in its original spot anymore. It used to be in Pennsylvania. But in 1937, it was carefully moved to Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan. Now, visitors can see it there, crossing a small, artificial stream. It's about 72 feet (22 meters) long.
Ada Covered Bridge
The Ada Covered Bridge is found in Ada, in Kent County. This bridge was first built in 1867. It crosses the Thornapple River. While it's an old bridge, it was rebuilt in 1980 to keep it safe and strong. The Ada Covered Bridge is so important that it's listed on both the Michigan Historic Register and the National Register of Historic Places. It is 125 feet (38 meters) long.
Fallasburg Covered Bridge
Also in Kent County, the Fallasburg Covered Bridge is in Vergennes Township. It was built in 1871 and crosses the Flat River. What's cool about this bridge is that cars can still drive across it today! Like the Ada bridge, it's also on both the Michigan Historic Register and the National Register of Historic Places. It measures 100 feet (30 meters) in length.
Langley Covered Bridge
The Langley Covered Bridge is near Centreville in St. Joseph County. Built in 1887, it's one of the longest covered bridges in Michigan, stretching 282 feet (86 meters) over the St. Joseph River. This bridge is also still open for cars to drive across. It's a very important historic site, listed on both the Michigan and National Registers.
Nichols Covered Bridge
You can find the Nichols Covered Bridge on the Kal-Haven Trail near South Haven. This bridge has an interesting past. It was built in 1988, but it stands on the spot of an even older railroad bridge from the 1870s. It crosses the Black River and is 108 feet (33 meters) long.
Whites Bridge
The Whites Bridge is in Keene Township, Ionia County. The original bridge was built in 1869. Sadly, it was destroyed by a fire in 2013. But people loved this bridge so much that they decided to build an exact copy! The new bridge was finished in 2020. It's 120 feet (37 meters) long and crosses the Flat River. It is also listed on both the Michigan and National Historic Registers.
Zehnder's Holz Brucke
In the town of Frankenmuth, you'll find Zehnder's Holz Brucke. "Holz Brucke" means "wooden bridge" in German, which fits Frankenmuth's German heritage! This bridge was built in 1979 and is 239 feet (73 meters) long. It crosses the Cass River and is open for cars to drive through. It's a popular spot in Frankenmuth.
