Covered bridges are enclosed bridges made of wood, but some have been reinforced with concrete and steel. They were initially covered to increase their lifespan due to vulnerability to rot. Covered bridges are historic landmarks and tourist attractions in America, Europe, and Asia. The first covered bridge in North America was built in Pennsylvania in 1804. Covered bridges were painted red to create the illusion of a stable, which persuaded horses to enter safely. Metal truss bridges replaced wooden construction in the early 20th century, but about 20 covered bridges remain in the US today.
A covered bridge is an enclosed bridge consisting of two solid walls and a roof, with an opening at each end for traffic. Covered bridges were historically constructed of wood, but in modern times many have been reinforced with concrete and steel for preservation. Most commonly associated with early 19th-century America, covered bridges across the country have become historic landmarks and tourist attractions. Europe and Asia are also known for their many covered bridges, both modern and historic.
The first covered bridge in North America appeared in 1804 and was built by bridge architect Thomas Palmer in Pennsylvania. However, covered bridges have been used since medieval times in many European and Asian countries. Some notable surviving bridges around the world include the Japanese Covered Bridge, built in Hoi An, Vietnam in 1595, and the Kappellbrucke Bridge built in Switzerland in 1333. The largest covered bridge known today is the Hartland Bridge in New Brunswick, in Canada, measuring 1,282 feet (390.75 meters) long and crossing the Saint John River.
Covered bridges were initially covered due to their vulnerability to rot. A wooden deck may only last 10 or 15 years when exposed to the elements, but placing a roof over the structure would increase its life span by several decades. Wood is an abundant building material in rural areas, so covered bridges have been built to cross rivers, streams and creeks in remote places. This explains the large number of specimens that have survived in the northeastern United States, as well as in rural areas in other countries of the world.
Covered bridges in the United States also share a common color theme. Many were painted red and historians believe this was helpful in forcing the horses inside. Peasants, traders, and travelers in horse-drawn carriages would have had a hard time coaxing their horses across running water. The red paint is believed to have created the illusion of a stable, which persuaded the horses to enter safely.
As time went on and construction methods improved, the covered bridge became a thing of the past. In the early 20th century, metal truss bridges began to replace the older wooden construction, and soon the covered bridge was a thing of the past. About 20 covered bridges remain in the United States today, and many of these still serve their original function. However, modern covered bridges are built for convenience or style only, rather than for the original purpose of protecting the structure from the elements.
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