Covered bridges are an important heritage dating back to the late 19th century. Brown County is home to five existing covered bridges, some of which are still operational to this day! These structures had a vital function, especially in the era prior to vehicles, to navigate over the many creeks and rivers which feed into the mighty Ohio River as the southern county border.

Of the nearly 14,000 authentic wooden covered bridges that once existed in the United States, less than 900 remain, with approximately 125 left in the state of Ohio. Over the years, many covered bridges have been destroyed by fire, flooding, or vandalism. The majority of the others simply collapsed due to age and disrepair, and some were torn down to make way for newer iron bridges.

Why Were Bridges Covered?

Many reasons are suggested for covering bridges. One generally accepted reason is protection from weather and wood rot in order to make sure the bridges lasted longer. Sides and roofs protected the beams and timbers that served as key bridge supports. Less exposure to adverse weather conditions meant the bridges would hold up much better year after year.

Other explanations include:

• The covered bridges resembled barns so animals would be calm when passing through them.
• Having covers kept snow off the bridges and made for less maintenance in the winter months after the invention of automobiles.
• The bridge trusses were unsightly to many travelers, so adding sides and roofs created a much more aesthetically pleasing structure.
• To provide a place of shelter for travelers during storms.

From an engineer’s viewpoint, adding a roof to a bridge added stability and strengthened the entire structure. A more romantic utilization of covered bridges was as a location for courting couples to meet. Covered bridges are also known as “kissing bridges” for that very reason!