List of covered bridges in New Hampshire facts for kids
New Hampshire is famous for its beautiful covered bridges. These special bridges are made of wood and have roofs and sides, just like a house! They were built this way to protect the wooden parts of the bridge from rain, snow, and sun. This helped them last much longer, especially in New Hampshire's snowy winters.
Today, there are 58 historic wooden covered bridges in New Hampshire that have official numbers. You can also find other covered bridges around the state, but some are on private land. The newest covered bridge built in New Hampshire is the Wason Bridge in Chester, which was finished in 2011 by a group called the Timber Framers Guild.
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Amazing Covered Bridges You Can Visit
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New Hampshire's covered bridges are unique and each has its own story. Some bridges have more than one name, but this list uses the name you'll find posted on the bridge itself.
Oldest and Longest Bridges
One of the most famous bridges is the Contoocook Railroad Bridge in Contoocook. Built in 1849–50, it's the oldest covered railroad bridge in the entire United States! It's also known as the Hopkinton Railroad Covered Bridge.
The Cornish–Windsor Bridge is another incredible structure. It connects Cornish, New Hampshire, with Windsor, Vermont, across the Connecticut River. When it was built in 1866, it was the longest wooden covered bridge in the U.S., stretching about 449 feet (137 meters)! Most of these bridges are open for cars, but some are just for walking.
Bridges with Special Uses
Many covered bridges are still used for cars and foot traffic, but some have very unique purposes:
- Clark's Bridge in North Woodstock is part of the Clark's Bears amusement park. It was moved from Vermont around 1965 and is the only known covered railroad bridge still actively used by trains!
- The Bartlett Bridge in Bartlett is special because it contains a gift shop inside! You can only walk across this bridge.
- The Sulphite Railroad Bridge in Franklin, built in 1896, is the only remaining "deck-covered" railroad bridge in the U.S. This means the railroad tracks ran over the top of the bridge, which is why it's sometimes called the "Upside Down Bridge." It's no longer in use.
- The Smith Millennium Bridge in Plymouth, built in 2001, is known as "The strongest covered bridge in the world." It's the third bridge built on that spot.
Other Interesting Bridges
- The Stark Bridge in Stark, built around 1857, is a beautiful white bridge decorated with acorn shapes. It's right in the middle of town and is open to both cars and people walking.
- The Prentiss Bridge in Langdon, built in 1874, is the shortest covered bridge in New Hampshire, measuring only 36 feet (11 meters) long. It's for foot traffic only.
- The Chester Bridge, also called Wason Pond Covered Bridge, was built in 2011 by volunteers and the Timber Framers Guild. It's a newer bridge for people walking.
- The Friendship Bridge in Wentworth has an interesting history. It was first built in Bedford in 1962 as Goffe's Mill Covered Bridge. Then, it was moved and rebuilt in Wentworth in 2016! It's now owned by a non-profit group and is only for walking.
Many covered bridges are found in beautiful, natural settings, like the Sentinel Pine Bridge in Lincoln, which is located in Franconia Notch State Park at Flume Gorge. It's a great spot for a walk!
Lost Covered Bridges
Sadly, some covered bridges that once stood in New Hampshire are no longer here. They might have been destroyed by storms, fires, or simply dismantled. Here are a few notable examples:
- The Bedell Covered Bridge in Haverhill was destroyed in 1979.
- The County Farm Bridge in Dover burned down in 1981.
- The Goffstown Covered Railroad Bridge in Goffstown was also lost to fire in 1976.
- The New Henniker Bridge in West Hopkinton was taken apart in 1936.
These lost bridges remind us how important it is to protect and care for the historic covered bridges that still stand today!
