Thompson Mill Covered Bridge is a covered bridge which crosses the Kaskaskia River 2 miles (3.2 km) northeast of Cowden, Illinois. The 160-foot-4-inch (48.87 m) Howe truss bridge is only 10 feet 7 inches (3.23 m) wide, making it the narrowest covered bridge in Illinois. The bridge was constructed in 1868; it was built in Michigan, shipped to Shelbyville, and hauled to the river crossing by horse-drawn wagons. The road the bridge carried was an important transportation corridor connecting Springfield, Taylorville, and Effingham. The bridge also provided area residents access to the Thompson Mill, a corn mill and sawmill which operated from 1843 to 1914.[2]
Thompson Mill Covered Bridge | |
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| Nearest city | Cowden, Illinois |
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| Coordinates | 39°15′30″N 88°49′5″W / 39.25833°N 88.81806°W |
| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1868 |
| NRHP reference No. | 75000675[1] |
| Added to NRHP | March 13, 1975 |
The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 13, 1975.[1] It is now one of only five historic covered bridges remaining in Illinois. The bridge has been closed to automobile traffic but remains open to pedestrians.[3]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ Mulgrew, John C. (September 18, 1972). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form: Thompson Mill Covered Bridge" (PDF). National Park Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 16, 2013. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
- ^ "Thompson Mill Covered Bridge". Robin Hood Woods Campground & Resort. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
External links
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Media related to Thompson Mill Covered Bridge at Wikimedia Commons
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