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West Union Covered Bridge (Indiana) facts for kids

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Not to be confused with West Union Covered Bridge (West Virginia).
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West Union Covered Bridge
Westunionbridge.jpg
West Union Covered Bridge
Coordinates 39°51′17.75″N 87°20′8.75″W / 39.8549306°N 87.3357639°W / 39.8549306; -87.3357639
Carries Tow Path Road (C.R. 525W)
Crosses Sugar Creek, Parke County, Indiana
Locale Parke, Indiana, United States
Official name West Union Covered Bridge
Named for West Union, Indiana
Maintained by Parke County
WGCB Number
  1. 14-61-27
Characteristics
Design National Register of Historic Places
Total length 337 ft (103 m)310ft +10ft +17ft overhangs on each end
Width 17 ft (5.2 m)
Height 14.5 ft (4.4 m)
History
Constructed by J. J. Daniels
MPS Parke County Covered Bridges TR
NRHP reference No. 78000414
Added to NRHP Dec 22, 1978
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The West Union Covered Bridge is north-northeast of Montezuma, Indiana. The two-span Burr Arch Truss covered bridge structure was built by Joseph J. Daniels in 1876. It is notable for being the longest standing covered bridge in Parke County, and one of the nation's best-preserved examples of the Burr truss.

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 and was named a National Historic Landmark in 2016.

History

The West Union Covered Bridge is the third bridge to stand at this location. The Star Mill Covered Bridge was the first and then the Harrison Covered Bridge replaced it but was damaged in 1876 prompting the West Union Covered Bridge to be built. The bridge was finished in September 1876. The road was originally part of the "Indiana State Highway", established with Legislature in 1827, which connected Fort Wayne with Terre Haute. Along with the Armiesburg Covered Bridge it hosted stage coach traffic to Lafayette.

Not much is left of West Union today, only a handful of houses. Gone are the school, post office, and the railroad. The Wabash Erie Canal ran just west of town with a feeder canal running south of Sugar Creek and connecting to the west of the bridge. The Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad crossed Sugar Creek to the east of the bridge and past West Union on the west side. Little is left of evidence of the railroad or the canal today. Farmers reclaimed the land and farm most of it today.

Gallery

  • GENERAL VIEW FROM NORTHWEST. - West Union Bridge, Spanning Sugar Creek, CR 525W, West Union, Parke County, IN HAER IN-105-1

    View of Northwest portal.

  • ELEVATION OF SOUTH ABUTMENT FROM NORTH WITHOUT SCALE. - West Union Bridge, Spanning Sugar Creek, CR 525W, West Union, Parke County, IN HAER IN-105-9

    Detail of Southeast abutment with view of double Burr Arch rings bearing on abutment and lower truss details.

  • OBLIQUE VIEW OF INTERIOR ARCH. - West Union Bridge, Spanning Sugar Creek, CR 525W, West Union, Parke County, IN HAER IN-105-15

    Interior view of double Burr Arches, Kings Posts, and upper truss.

  • VIEW OF INTERIOR FROM NORTH. - West Union Bridge, Spanning Sugar Creek, CR 525W, West Union, Parke County, IN HAER IN-105-13

    View looking Southeast of interior of bridge.

  • ELEVATION OF SOUTH PORTAL WITH SCALE. - West Union Bridge, Spanning Sugar Creek, CR 525W, West Union, Parke County, IN HAER IN-105-4

    View of Southeast portal. (Note new bridge to far left)

  • VIEW FROM EAST WINDOW LOOKING EAST. - West Union Bridge, Spanning Sugar Creek, CR 525W, West Union, Parke County, IN HAER IN-105-14

    View out of east window looking east.

  • DETAIL OF SOUTHEAST CORNER OF ABUTMENT WITHOUT SCALE. - West Union Bridge, Spanning Sugar Creek, CR 525W, West Union, Parke County, IN HAER IN-105-11

    Detail of Southeast of abutment.

  • VIEW OF SOUTH PORTAL, FROM SOUTH. - West Union Bridge, Spanning Sugar Creek, CR 525W, West Union, Parke County, IN HAER IN-105-3

    View of Southeast portal.

  • VIEW OF CENTER OF ABUTMENT FROM SOUTH. - West Union Bridge, Spanning Sugar Creek, CR 525W, West Union, Parke County, IN HAER IN-105-12

    View of center abutment from Southeast abutment.

  • GENERAL VIEW FROM SOUTH. - West Union Bridge, Spanning Sugar Creek, CR 525W, West Union, Parke County, IN HAER IN-105-2

    View of Southwest side of bridge from South.

  • ELEVATION OF WALL INSCRIPTION, SHOWING 1914 DATE AND NAMES OF COUNTY OFFICIALS AT TIME. - West Union Bridge, Spanning Sugar Creek, CR 525W, West Union, Parke County, IN HAER IN-105-7

    Detail of wall inscription showing 1914 date and names of county officials at time of building.

  • OBLIQUE VIEW OF SOUTH CONCRETE APPROACH WALL, BUILT IN 1914 AFTER A FLOOD DAMAGED ORIGINAL WALLS. - West Union Bridge, Spanning Sugar Creek, CR 525W, West Union, Parke County, IN HAER IN-105-6

    View of wall, built in 1914 after flood damaged original walls, and Southeast portal.

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