Medora Covered Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Medora Covered Bridge is a wooden covered bridge
built in 1875 and is located in Southern Indiana
. It is the longest historic covered bridge in the United States.
in Jackson County
, Indiana
and crosses the East Fork of the White River
running parallel to State Road 235
. It is approximately one mile east of Medora
and nine miles southwest of Brownstown
.
truss design. It was built in 1875 by Joseph 'J.J.' Daniels. According to the original contract, three spans which are each 141'10" cover a length of 431'10" including the center piers with overhangs of 14'1" at each end for a total length of 460 feet (140.2 m). The engineer's measurement of a bridge is the total span which includes the length between the abutments. The overhangs are not included in the official measurement.
. It is the longest historic covered bridge in the United States. It was closed to all but pedestrian traffic in 1972. The bridge is a tourist attraction. Restoration is underway. It will be open to bicycle and pedestrian traffic with parking and grassy areas on both ends. The Williams Bridge
at 373 feet (113.7 m), in Lawrence County
, is currently the longest covered bridge in the state that is still open to vehicular traffic.
Covered bridge
A covered bridge is a bridge with enclosed sides and a roof, often accommodating only a single lane of traffic. Most covered bridges are wooden; some newer ones are concrete or metal with glass sides...
built in 1875 and is located in Southern Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. It is the longest historic covered bridge in the United States.
Location
The Medora Covered Bridge is located in Carr TownshipCarr Township, Jackson County, Indiana
Carr Township is one of twelve townships in Jackson County, Indiana, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 1,384.-Geography:Carr Township covers an area of ; of this, or 1.56 percent is water...
in Jackson County
Jackson County, Indiana
Jackson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 42,376. The county seat is Brownstown.-History:...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
and crosses the East Fork of the White River
White River (Indiana)
The White River is a two-forked river that flows through central and southern Indiana and is the main tributary to the Wabash River. Via the west fork, considered to be the main stem of the river by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, the White River is long.-West Fork:The West Fork, long, is...
running parallel to State Road 235
Indiana State Road 235
State Road 235 in the U.S. state of Indiana is a short route in southwest Jackson County.-Route description:State Road 235 begins at State Road 135 east of Medora and southwest of Brownstown. The road travels west to Medora, which it reaches after about . The Medora Covered Bridge parallels the...
. It is approximately one mile east of Medora
Medora, Indiana
Medora is a town in Carr Township, Jackson County, Indiana, United States. The population was 693 at the 2010 census. Medora is noted for its long triple span covered bridge, the longest covered bridge in the United States.-Geography:...
and nine miles southwest of Brownstown
Brownstown, Indiana
Brownstown is a town in Brownstown Township, Jackson County, Indiana, United States. The population was 3,000 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Jackson County. It was named for Jacob Brown, a General of the War of 1812.- History :...
.
Construction
The bridge is a Burr ArchBurr Truss
The Burr Arch Truss — or simply Burr Truss or Burr Arch — is a combination of an arch and a multiple kingpost truss design. It was invented in 1804 by Theodore Burr, patented on April 3, 1817, and used in bridges, usually covered bridges....
truss design. It was built in 1875 by Joseph 'J.J.' Daniels. According to the original contract, three spans which are each 141'10" cover a length of 431'10" including the center piers with overhangs of 14'1" at each end for a total length of 460 feet (140.2 m). The engineer's measurement of a bridge is the total span which includes the length between the abutments. The overhangs are not included in the official measurement.
History
In 2007, the bridge was added to the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. It is the longest historic covered bridge in the United States. It was closed to all but pedestrian traffic in 1972. The bridge is a tourist attraction. Restoration is underway. It will be open to bicycle and pedestrian traffic with parking and grassy areas on both ends. The Williams Bridge
Williams Bridge
The Williams Bridge is a wooden covered bridge built in 1884 and is located in southern Indiana.-Location:The Williams Bridge is located in Spice Valley Township in Lawrence County, Indiana and crosses the East Fork of the White River on Huron and Williams Road, south of State Road 450...
at 373 feet (113.7 m), in Lawrence County
Lawrence County, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 45,922 people, 18,535 households, and 13,141 families residing in the county. The population density was 102 people per square mile . There were 20,560 housing units at an average density of 46 per square mile...
, is currently the longest covered bridge in the state that is still open to vehicular traffic.