Roseman Bridge: The Roseman Covered Bridge is iconic and recognizable as it was featured in the book and movie and appeared on many advertisements for the movie. The bridge, constructed in 1883, still stands in its original location over the Middle River near Winterset, Iowa. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Timber-Truss: The timber-truss construction was used in most of the covered bridges in America including all six of the bridges in Madison County. The timber-truss design features the use of triangles to give the structure added strength and durability. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
By GARY WARREN
Photographer
Formerly of Los Alamos
Covered Bridges are about as Americana as it gets. These icons of our country’s early road system bring back memories of years gone by. The feeling of nostalgia can be overwhelming when viewing these engineering feats of our forefathers as we imagine what life and travel must have been like years ago. These beautiful structures are very photogenic and still attract tourists today.
One might ask what is a covered bridge and why are they covered? These bridges are timber-truss bridges with a roof and sides. Generally constructed with pine wood, the bridges would only last a few years without protection from the weather.
However, by constructing a roof and sides to the bridge, the wood decking could last for a hundred years or longer. These bridges were built in the 1800s long before the automobile was even a thought and were constructed to provide farmers a way to move their horse-drawn wagons over rivers and gulleys.
While most of these bridges have disappeared over the decades, many still exists and there are great efforts to save and maintain these historic bridges. Perhaps the most famous of all covered bridges are the bridges of Madison County, Iowa, which were made famous in the book “The Bridges of Madison County” by Robert James Waller. The best selling novel was adapted into an award winning movie in 1995 and a musical production in 2013. Six of the bridges built in Madison County exist today.
The Covered Bridges Scenic Byway is an 82-mile tour of Madison County, which includes a stop at the six covered bridges as well as other notable landmarks in the Winterset, Iowa area.
We were thrilled to visit Iowa and see these bridges in June 2021.
Editor’s note: Longtime Los Alamos photographer Gary Warren and his wife Marilyn are traveling around the country, and he shares his photographs, which appear in the “Posts from the Road” series published in the Sunday edition of the Los Alamos Daily Post.
Imes Bridge: The Imes Bridge in Madison County has an interesting history because it has been moved two times. The oldest bridge in the county, the bridge was built in 1870 near the town of Patterson where it served for 17 years. In 1887, the bridge was relocated to Clinton Creek near Hanley, Iowa where it was used for 90 years until it was moved in 1977 to a park area in St. Charles, Iowa. Many of the covered bridges appear to be leaning as seen here. This is caused by the roof of the bridge extending a few feet beyond the end of the bridge’s base for additional protection and then angling back on the sides toward the bridge walls. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Hogback Bridge: The Hogback Covered Bridge sits in its original scenic location north of Winterset, Iowa in Madison County. The bridge is 97 feet long and was named for a limestone ridge located nearby. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Holiwell Bridge: The Holiwell Covered Bridge is another bridge featured in the movie. At 122 feet in length, this is the longest of the bridges in Madison County. It is located in its original location just southeast of Winterset, Iowa. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Cutler-Donahoe Bridge: The Cutler-Donahoe Covered Bridge was originally located across the North River near Beaverton, Iowa. The bridge serviced Beaverton for 109 years before being relocated near the entrance to the city park in Winterset, Iowa. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Cedar Bridge: Built in 1883, the Cedar Covered Bridge was originally built over Cedar Creek north of Winterset, Iowa. It was moved to a new location also over Cedar Creek in 1921. While all six bridges are open for foot traffic, this is the only bridge still used for auto traffic. The bridge was badly burned but was reconstructed and reopened in 2019. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
