In many ways, American engineering began with innovative timber-truss bridges built in the early 1800s. In this slideshow, the editors of Invention & Technology Magazine describe 35 of the most celebrated covered bridges in the U.S., and tell why they are important.
For more information, see the accompanying article, "The History of American Covered Bridges" by Lola Bennett in the Spring 2023 Issue of Invention & Technology.
We wish to thank Christopher Marston, Lola Bennett, and their colleagues at the National Covered Bridges Recording Project of the National Park Service, which has documented so many of the historic bridges in the U.S. They critiqued our selection and provided invaluable help.
We also thank Bill Caswell and the other volunteers at the National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges for the important work they are doing .