Parke County Covered Bridges facts for kids
Parke County, Indiana, is famous for its many covered bridges. It even calls itself the "Covered Bridge Capital of the World"! These special bridges are a big tourist attraction in the United States. Parke County says it has more covered bridges than any other county in the country.
Long ago, there were as many as 53 covered bridges in Parke County. Today, 31 of these beautiful bridges are still standing. Ten of them are now closed to cars, but you can still visit them.
Some bridges are extra special. The Jackson Covered Bridge is the longest covered bridge in Indiana with a single span. The Portland Mills Covered Bridge is the oldest covered bridge in the county. On December 22, 1978, all the covered bridges in Parke County were added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites that are protected.
Visiting the Bridges
Many people love to visit Parke County to see these historic bridges. You can explore them using five different driving routes. These routes are marked with signs and use different colors to help you find your way.
Every October, Parke County hosts a special event called the Parke County Covered Bridge Festival. This festival celebrates the covered bridges and brings many visitors to the area. In 2005, the travel website Travelocity even called it one of their "Big Secrets Local Finds."
The Bridgeton Bridge Story
In 2004, the historic Bridgeton Covered Bridge was sadly damaged by fire. But the community worked together to rebuild it! People raised money, and local builders used the original plans to construct a new bridge. The new Bridgeton Bridge was finished in 2006, showing how much the community cares about its history.
