Medora Covered Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Medora Covered Bridge
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 Location in Indiana
Location in the United States
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| Location | Medora, Indiana |
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| Architect | Joseph J. Daniels |
| Architectural style | Burr Arch Truss |
| NRHP reference No. | 07000977 |
| Added to NRHP | September 19, 2007 |
The Medora Covered Bridge is a very special bridge located in Indiana. It is the longest historic covered bridge in the United States. This means it has kept its original design for many years. The bridge is famous for its impressive length. It measures over 431 feet long from one end to the other. Its roof and sides are also the longest for a historic covered bridge in the U.S.
Where to Find the Medora Covered Bridge
The Medora Covered Bridge is in Jackson County, Indiana. It crosses the East Fork of the White River. You can find it near Medora, about one mile east of the town. It runs next to State Road 235.
History of the Medora Covered Bridge
The Medora Covered Bridge was built in 1875. A man named J.J. Daniels built it. It cost $18,142 and took nine months to finish. The bridge was covered to protect its wooden parts from rain and snow. This helps it last much longer. Before the bridge was built, people used a ferry to cross the river.
There's a story that the bridge once had a wooden railing down the middle. This railing might have separated traffic going in two directions. As cars became wider, the railing was removed. After that, only one direction of traffic could cross at a time.
Until 1935, the bridge was part of a major road called U.S. Route 50. Then, U.S. Route 50 was moved to a new path.
In 1968, the bridge was almost torn down. A new, modern bridge was going to open nearby. But in 1971, the Governor of Indiana, Governor Whitcomb, ordered that the bridge be saved! This helped protect the historic structure.
The new modern bridge opened in 1973. At that time, the Medora Covered Bridge was closed to cars. It became a historic landmark instead of a busy road.
In 2007, the bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of important places that are worth preserving.
In 2011, the bridge had a big repair project. This was called a "rehab" or restoration. The main wooden frame, called the truss, stayed in place. Workers replaced the roof shingles and some of the side boards. They also fixed some of the wooden supports. Most of these parts were very old and needed to be replaced.
