List of covered bridges in Indiana

(Redirected from Houck Covered Bridge)

This is a list of Indiana covered bridges. There are 98 historic wooden covered bridges in the U.S. state of Indiana. Fourteen of these were built before 1870 and represent the most common truss styles (Burr Arch) in Indiana.

Parke County bills itself as the covered bridge capital of the world.[1] Combined with six counties that surround it, there are 51 of Indiana’s 98 covered bridges in this small area: Parke County (32), Putnam County (9), Fountain County (3), Vermillion County (3), Montgomery County (2), Owen County (1) and Vigo County (1). The majority, 54, are Burr Arch truss designs, while the next most common truss style is a Howe truss with 23.

One each of the older style King Post and Queen Post are located in the western part of the state; Philips Bridge, west of Rockville in Parke County and Irishman Bridge, south of Terre Haute in Vigo County, respectively.[2] Indiana also has examples of the Long Truss and the Smith Type IV Truss. The remaining span of the Bell Ford Bridge, northwest of Seymour in Jackson County, collapsed in January 2006. It was the last standing example of a Post Truss covered bridge in the world.

List of covered bridges

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Extant

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Name[2] Image Location
[2][A]
Year built[2] Length Crosses Design Historical notes
Adams Mill Bridge   Cutler, Carroll County 1872 138 feet (42 m) Wildcat Creek Howe truss
Baker's Camp Bridge   Bainbridge, Putnam County 1901 128 feet (39 m) Big Walnut Creek Burr Arch
Beanblossom Bridge   Beanblossom, Brown County 1880 60 feet (18 m) Beanblossom Creek Howe truss Appears to actually be a Pratt Truss.
Beeson Bridge   Billie Creek Village, Rockville, Parke County 1906 55 feet (17 m) Burr Arch
Big Rocky Fork Bridge   Mansfield, Parke County 1900 72 feet (22 m) Big Rocky Fork Creek Burr Arch
Billie Creek Bridge   Billie Creek Village, Rockville, Parke County 1895 62 feet (19 m) Burr Arch Moved to serve as the entrance to Billie Creek Village.
Bowsher Ford Bridge   Tangier, Parke County 1915 72 feet (22 m) Mill Creek Burr Arch
Bridgeton Bridge (new)   Bridgeton, Parke County 2006 245 feet (75 m) Big Raccoon Creek Burr Arch Replaced original bridge that was destroyed by fire in 2005 with reconstruction completed in October 2006.
Busching Bridge   Versailles, Ripley County 1885 176 feet (54 m) Laugher Creek Howe truss Located at Versailles State Park.
Cades Mill Bridge   Steam Corner, Fountain County 1854 150 feet (46 m) Coal Creek Howe truss Oldest bridge in the state
Cataract Covered Bridge   Cataract, Owen County 1876 140 feet (43 m) Mill Creek Smith Type IV Truss
Catlin Bridge   Rockville, Parke County 1907 54 feet (16 m) Bill Diddle Creek Burr Arch
Cedar Ford Bridge[3] Bean Blossom, Monroe County 2019 127 feet (39 m) Beanblossom Creek Burr Arch
Ceylon Bridge   Ceylon, Adams County 1879 126 feet (38 m) Wabash River Howe truss
Conley’s Ford Bridge   Mansfield, Parke County 1907 192 feet (59 m) Big Raccoon Creek Burr Arch
Cornstalk Bridge   Raccoon, Putnam County 1917 82 feet (25 m) Cornstalk Creek Burr Arch
Cox Ford Bridge   Annapolis, Parke County 1913 176 feet (54 m) Sugar Creek Burr Arch Located at the west side of Turkey Run State Park.
Crooks Bridge   Rockville, Parke County 1856 132 feet (40 m) Little Raccoon Creek Burr Arch Second oldest bridge in the state
Crown Point Bridge   Crown Point, Lake County 1878 85 feet (26 m) Gully Burr Arch Moved to Lake County Fairgrounds in 1933 from Milroy in Rush County over the Little Flatrock River.
Cumberland Bridge   Matthews, Grant County 1877 175 feet (53 m) Mississinewa River Howe truss
Darlington Bridge   Darlington, Montgomery County 1868 140 feet (43 m) Sugar Creek Howe truss Fourth oldest covered bridge in the state and has a unique wooden block floor that spans its length as shown in the picture.
Deer's Mills Bridge   Deer's Mill, Montgomery County 1878 275 feet (84 m) Sugar Creek Burr Arch Located in Shades State Park.
Dick Huffman Bridge Reelsville, Putnam County 1880 265 feet (81 m) Big Walnut River Howe truss Longest Howe Truss bridge in the state
Dunbar Bridge   Greencastle, Putnam County 1880 174 feet (53 m) Big Walnut Creek Burr Arch Two spans
Edna Collins Bridge Clinton Falls, Putnam County 1922 80 feet (24 m) Little Walnut Creek Burr Arch Local legends claim this bridge is haunted.[4]
Eugene Bridge   Eugene, Vermillion County 1885 192 feet (59 m) Vermillion River Burr Arch
Forsythe Mill Bridge   Gowdy, Rush County 1888 196 feet (60 m) Big Flat Rock River Burr Arch Built by Emmett L. Kennedy
Guilford Bridge   Guilford, Dearborn County 1879 104 feet (32 m) Burr Arch
Harry Evans Bridge   Coxville, Parke County 1908 65 feet (20 m) Rock Run Creek Burr Arch
Hillsdale Bridge Dana, Vermillion County 1876 104 feet (32 m) Burr Arch
Holton Bridge   Holton, Ripley County 1884 112 feet (34 m) Otter Creek Howe truss
Houck Bridge   Manhattan, Putnam County 1880[5] 210 feet (64 m) Big Walnut Creek Howe truss Located at 39°34′56″N 86°56′22″W / 39.58222°N 86.93944°W / 39.58222; -86.93944,[6] it is one of the longest Howe Truss bridges in the state.[7] The status of its name is unofficial.[8]
Huffman's Mill Bridge   Huffman, Spencer County 1884 140 feet (43 m) Anderson River Burr Arch
Irishman Bridge Youngstown, Vigo County ca. 1847 75 feet (23 m) Fowler Lake, branch of Honey Creek Queen Post Second oldest and only remaining Queen Post covered bridge in the state
Jackson Bridge   Annapolis, Parke County 1861 207 feet (63 m) Sugar Creek Burr Arch Fifth oldest and longest single span covered bridge in the state
James Bridge   Lovett, Jennings County 1887 124 feet (38 m) Big Graham Creek Howe truss
Jeffries Ford Bridge   Bridgeton, Parke County 1915 204 feet (62 m) Big Raccoon Creek Burr Arch
Lancaster Bridge   Owasco, Carroll County 1872 133 feet (41 m) Wildcat Creek Howe truss
Leatherwood Station Bridge   Billie Creek Village, Rockville, Parke County 1899 72 feet (22 m) Burr Arch Located at Billie Creek Village.
Longwood Bridge Connersville, Fayette County 1884 92 feet (28 m) Burr Arch
Mansfield Bridge   Mansfield, Parke County 1867 247 feet (75 m) Big Raccoon Creek Burr Arch Three spans, central roof was torn off by winds in the spring of 2006 and restored in 2007.
Marshall Bridge   Tangier, Parke County 1917 56 feet (17 m) Rush Creek Burr Arch
McAllister Bridge   Catlin, Parke County 1914 126 feet (38 m) Little Raccoon Creek Burr Arch
Mecca Bridge   Mecca, Parke County 1873 150 feet (46 m) Big Raccoon Creek Burr Arch
Medora Bridge   Medora, Jackson County 1875 434 feet (132 m) East Fork, White River Burr Arch Three spans, longest covered bridge in the state and, by clear span, is sometimes claimed to be the longest historic covered bridge in the U.S. Closed to all but pedestrian traffic since 1972, and is currently undergoing restoration.
Melcher Bridge   Montezuma, Parke County 1896 83 feet (25 m) Leatherwood Creek Burr Arch
Mill Creek Bridge   Tangier, Parke County 1907 92 feet (28 m) Mill Creek Burr Arch
Moscow Bridge   Moscow, Rush County 1886 (rebuilt 2010) 334 feet (102 m) Big Flat Rock River Burr Arch Two spans, third longest covered bridge in the state; destroyed by a tornado in 2008, it has since been rebuilt.
Narrows Bridge   Marshall, Parke County 1882 121 feet (37 m) Sugar Creek Burr Arch Located on the east boundary of Turkey Run State Park.
Neet Bridge   Catlin, Parke County 1904 126 feet (38 m) Little Raccoon Creek Burr Arch
Nevins Bridge   Catlin, Parke County 1920 155 feet (47 m) Little Raccoon Creek Burr Arch
New Brownsville Bridge   Columbus, Bartholomew County 1840 93 feet (28 m) Mill Run Creek Long Truss Moved from Brownsville in Union County over the Whitewater River.
Newport Bridge   Newport, Vermillion County 1885 180 feet (55 m) Little Vermillion River Burr Arch
Norris Ford Bridge   Rushville, Rush County 1916 169 feet (52 m) Big Flat Rock River Burr Arch
North Manchester Bridge   North Manchester, Wabash County 1872 150 feet (46 m) Eel River Smith Type IV Truss
Oakalla Bridge Greencastle, Putnam County 1875 152 feet (46 m) Big Walnut Creek Burr Arch
Old Red Bridge Hickory Ridge, Gibson County 1875 170 feet (52 m) Big Bayou Creek Smith Type IV Truss
Pine Bluff Bridge   Carpentersville, Putnam County 1915 211 feet (64 m) Big Walnut Creek Howe truss
Phillips Bridge   Montezuma, Parke County 1909 43 feet (13 m) Big Pond Creek King Post Shortest covered bridge in the state
Portland Mills Bridge   Guion, Parke County 1856 130 feet (40 m) Little Raccoon Creek Burr Arch Tied with Crooks Bridge as the fourth oldest covered bridge in the state.
Potter's Covered Bridge   Noblesville, Hamilton County 1871 259 feet (79 m) West Fork, White River Howe truss
Ramp Creek Bridge   Nashville, Brown County 1838 96 feet (29 m) Salt Creek Double Barreled Burr Arch Oldest and only two-lane covered bridge in the state; located at the entrance to Brown County State Park.
Richland Creek Bridge   Bloomfield, Greene County 1883 100 feet (30 m) Richland Creek Burr Arch Built by A.M. Kennedy and Sons
Roann Bridge   Roann, Wabash County 1872 288 feet (88 m) Eel River Howe truss
Rob Roy Bridge   Rob Roy, Fountain County 1860 120 feet (37 m) Big Shawnee Creek Howe truss
Rolling Stone Bridge   Bainbridge, Putnam County 1915 103 feet (31 m) Big Walnut Creek Burr Arch
Roseville-Coxville Bridge   Coxville, Parke County 1910 263 feet (80 m) Big Raccoon Creek Burr Arch
Rush Creek Bridge   Tangier, Parke County 1904 77 feet (23 m) Rush Creek Burr Arch
Salem Crossing Bridge
 
Zionsville, Boone County 1972 ? Fishback Creek Howe truss
Sanatorium Bridge   Rockville, Parke County 1913 154 feet (47 m) Little Raccoon Creek Burr Arch
Scipio Bridge   Scipio, Jennings County 1886 146 feet (45 m) Sand Creek Howe truss
Shieldstown Bridge   Shields, Jackson County 1876 331 feet (101 m) East Fork, White River Burr Arch
Sim Smith Bridge   Montezuma, Parke County 1883 84 feet (26 m) Leatherwood Creek Burr Arch
Smith Bridge   Rushville, Rush County 1877 138 feet (42 m) Big Flat Rock River Burr Arch
Snow Hill Bridge   Rockdale, Franklin County 1895 75 feet (23 m) Johnson Fork, Whitewater River Howe truss
South Hill Bridge Universal, Vermillion County 1879 122 feet (37 m) Brouilletts Creek Burr Arch
Spencerville Covered Bridge   Spencerville, DeKalb County 1873 160 feet (49 m) St. Joseph River Howe truss
Stockheughter Bridge   Enochsburg, Franklin County 1887 92 feet (28 m) Salt Creek Howe truss
Thorpe Ford Bridge   Rosedale, Parke County 1912 163 feet (50 m) Big Raccoon Creek Burr Arch
Traders Point Bridge Indianapolis, Marion County 1880 89 feet (27 m) Fishback Creek Howe truss
Vermont Bridge   Kokomo, Howard County 1875 98 feet (30 m) Kokomo Creek Smith Type IV Truss Moved from its original location to Highland Park in Kokomo.
Wallace Bridge   Wallace, Fountain County 1871 81 feet (25 m) Sugar Mill Creek Howe truss
West Union Bridge   West Union, Parke County 1876 315 feet (96 m) Sugar Creek Burr Arch
Westport Bridge   Westport, Decatur County 1880 115 feet (35 m) Sand Creek Burr Arch
Wheeling Bridge   Wheeling, Gibson County 1877 164 feet (50 m) Patoka River Smith Type IV Truss
White Water Canal Aqueduct Bridge   Metamora, Franklin County 1846 81 feet (25 m) Duck Creek Burr Arch Located on the east side of Metamora.
Wilkins Mill Bridge   Annapolis, Parke County 1906 102 feet (31 m) Sugar Mill Creek Burr Arch
Williams Bridge   Williams, Lawrence County 1884 373 feet (114 m) East Fork, White River Howe truss Two spans, second longest covered bridge in the state
Zacke Cox Bridge   Coxville, Parke County 1908 54 feet (16 m) Rock Run Creek Burr Arch

Nonextant

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Name[2] Image Location
[2][A]
Year built[2] Length Crosses Design Historical notes
Bell Ford Bridge   Seymour, Jackson County 1869 330 feet (100 m) East Fork, White River Post Truss Western span collapsed in 1999, while the remaining eastern span collapsed in 2006. It was the fourth longest and fifth oldest covered bridge in the state.
Bridgeton Bridge (old)   Bridgeton, Parke County 1868 245 feet (75 m) Big Raccoon Creek Burr Arch Destroyed by fire in April 2005.
Clinton Bridge   Clinton, Vermillion County 1852 735 feet (224 m) Wabash River Four spans, removed in 1899

Notes

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  • A Sorting this column will result in bridges being listed in order by county.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Parke County Chamber of Commerce
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Indiana Atlas & Gazetteer, DeLorme Publishing; 3rd edition (2004), pg 9
  3. ^ Caswell, William S. World Guide to Covered Bridges (2021 ed.). Concord, New Hampshire: National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges. pp. 13–30. ISBN 978-0-578-30263-8.
  4. ^ Putnam County Convention & Visitors Bureau
  5. ^ "Historic Indiana bridge targeted by vandals". February 28, 2015.
  6. ^ Geological Survey (U.S.) Branch of Geographic Names (July 10, 1981). "Indiana Geographic Names". U.S.G.S. Topographic Division, Office of Research & Technical Standards, National Center – via Google Books.
  7. ^ Indiana Gazetter and Atlas, Delorme Pub; Yarmouth, Maine
  8. ^ "The National Gazetteer of the United States of America--Indiana, 1988". U.S. Government Printing Office. July 10, 1988 – via Google Books.
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