Pool Forge Covered Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pool Forge Covered Bridge |
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| Coordinates | 40°07′47″N 75°58′36″W / 40.1297°N 75.9768°W |
| Locale | Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | single span, double Burr arch truss |
| Total length | 99 feet (30.2 m) |
| History | |
| Constructed by | Levi Fink and Elias McMellen |
| Construction begin | 1859 |
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The Pool Forge Covered Bridge is a special covered bridge located in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. It crosses over the Conestoga River. This bridge is now on private land. It used to be a storage barn before a road was built for cars to use it again.
The bridge has a unique design called a double Burr arch truss. This means it has strong wooden arches that help support the bridge. It also has extra steel rods for more strength. The outside of the bridge is painted entirely red. This is a common color for covered bridges in Lancaster County. The inside of the bridge is not painted. Even the roads leading up to the bridge are painted red, without the usual white trim.
This bridge is officially recognized as an important historical site. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. This means it's a special place worth protecting. The bridge is also part of the Poole Forge historic area.
Contents
Building the Pool Forge Bridge
The Pool Forge Covered Bridge was built a long time ago in 1859. Two builders named Levi Fink and Elias McMellen worked together to create this strong structure.
What Makes the Bridge Special
Its Design
The Pool Forge Covered Bridge uses a special building method called the Burr arch truss. This design uses large wooden arches that go from one end of the bridge to the other. These arches help the bridge hold a lot of weight. Think of it like a giant bow and arrow, where the arch is the bow.
Besides the wooden arches, the bridge also has steel hanger rods. These rods hang down from the top of the bridge. They help to hold the floor of the bridge up. This combination of wood arches and steel rods makes the bridge very sturdy.
Its Color
The outside of the Pool Forge Covered Bridge is painted a bright red. Many covered bridges in Lancaster County are painted this same color. It's a traditional look for these historic bridges. The inside of the bridge, however, is left unpainted, showing the natural wood.
Its Size
The Pool Forge Covered Bridge is about 99 feet (or 30.2 meters) long. That's about the length of three school buses lined up end-to-end! It's a single span bridge, meaning it crosses the river without any support pillars in the middle.
Images for kids
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A three-quarters view of the bridge
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Another three-quarters view showing the same bridge approach.
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One of the sides of the bridge
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The other side of the bridge
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The approach to the bridge closest to the main road
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The approach farthest away from the main road entrance
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The Burr arch truss design on the inside of the bridge
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A closer look at the Burr arch truss
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An example of the bridge's steel hanger rods
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The bridge's underside structure
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The underside of the bridge showing where the Burr arch meets the concrete bridge abutment. The concrete bridge in the background bypasses this bridge.
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An underside bridge joint showing the Burr arch truss design.
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A view from above as you approach the bridge
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A view from above
