Below is a present list of Alabama covered bridges. There are currently eleven historic covered bridges remaining in the U.S. state of Alabama. Of those, six remain at their original locations.
The comparison between authentic and non-authentic covered bridges are by how they are constructed. Covered bridges made with stringers instead of traditional style trusses are considered non-authentic, although in some terms, a stringer construction is also a type of truss. Examples of truss construction on covered bridges include Howe, Town Lattice, Queen-post, King-post, Haupt, Burr, Brown and Pratt. Of the existing historic covered bridges in Alabama, the Gilliland-Reese Covered Bridge and the Old Union Crossing Covered Bridge are classified as non-authentic based on their current construction.
Name | Image | County | Location | Built | Length (ft) | Spans | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alamuchee-Bellamy | Sumter | Livingston | 1861 | 88 | Duck Pond | Moved to the University of West Alabama campus in 1971. | |
Clarkson-Legg | Cullman | Bethel | 1904 | 270 | Crooked Creek | Currently the second longest historic covered bridge in Alabama and third longest overall in the state. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. | |
Coldwater | Calhoun | Oxford | ca. 1850 | 63 | outlet of Oxford Lake | Moved to Oxford Lake Park in 1990. Currently the oldest covered bridge in Alabama. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. | |
Easley | Blount | Rosa | 1927 | 95 | Dub Branch -- Calvert Prong of the Little Warrior River | Oldest of three covered bridges remaining in Blount County. Bridge open to motor vehicle traffic. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. | |
Gilliland-Reese | Etowah | Gadsden | 1899 | 85 | Small Pond near Black Creek | Moved to Noccalula Falls Park in 1967. | |
Horton Mill | Blount | Oneonta | 1934 | 220 | Calvert Prong of the Little Warrior River | Highest covered bridge above any United States waterway. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. | |
Kymulga | Talladega | Childersburg | 1861 | 105 | Talladega Creek | Located in Kymulga Park. Both the bridge and gristmill were restored in 1974. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. | |
Old Union Crossing | DeKalb | Mentone | ca. 1863 | 90 | West Fork of the Little River | Built in Calhoun County. Moved to its current location in 1972 (private). Rebuilt in 1980. | |
Salem-Shotwell | Lee | Opelika | 1900 | 43 | Rocky Brook | Originally 76 feet. Destroyed on June 4, 2005 by a fallen tree. Rebuilt at Opelika Municipal Park. | |
Swann | Blount | Cleveland | 1933 | 324 | Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River | Currently the longest historic covered bridge in Alabama and second longest overall in the state. Bridge open to motor vehicle traffic. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. | |
Waldo | Talladega | Waldo | 1858 | 115 | Talladega Creek | Located behind the old Riddle Mill, now named the Old Mill Restaurant (private). |
These modern covered bridges shown below either have or will soon have historic eligibility. According to the National Register of Historic Places, a structure needs to be at least fifty years old to be considered historic although there are other criteria as part of the evaluation to be listed such as integrity and significance. All are classified as non-authentic covered bridges with most of them being privately owned.
Name | Image | County | Location | Built | Length (ft) | Spans | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Askew | Lee | Auburn | 1968 | 24 | private stream | Bridge is located at a private residence. | |
Cambron | Madison | Huntsville | 1974 | 90 | Cove of Sky Lake | Bridge is located atop Green Mountain at Madison County Nature Trail Park. | |
Fosters | Houston | Dothan | 1972 | 24 | Outlet to Lochenglen Lake | Bridge is located at a private residence. | |
Gargus | Etowah | Gallant | 1966 | 22 | Gargus Bass Lake | Bridge is located at a private residence. | |
Mountain Oaks | Jefferson | Hoover | 1970 | 26 | Huckleberry Creek | Bridge is located in a residential area of Hoover and is currently open to motor vehicle traffic. | |
Tannehill Valley Estates | Jefferson | McCalla | 1972 | 42 | Mill Creek | Bridge is located at Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park near the John Wesley Hall Grist Mill. |
Below is a list of some historic covered bridges in Alabama which were eventually destroyed, removed or altered.
Name | County | Location | Built | Length (ft) | Spans | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bangor | Blount | Bangor | N/A | N/A | Mulberry Fork of the Black Warrior River | Bridge no longer extant. |
Big Bear Creek | Colbert | Allsboro | mid-19th Century | N/A | Big Bear Creek | Bridge no longer extant. |
Blount Springs | Blount | Blount Springs | 1931 | N/A | Murphy Creek | Bridge no longer extant. |
Bolte | Cullman | Bolte | N/A | N/A | Brindley Creek | Bridge was destroyed by a tornado on March 21, 1932. |
Brookwood | Tuscaloosa | Brookwood | ca. 1850 | 177 | Hurricane Creek | Bridge burned down in 1965. |
Butler Mill | Madison | New Hope | 1884 | 165 | Paint Rock River | Bridge was replaced in the late 1940s. |
Buzzard Roost | Colbert | Cherokee | ca. 1820 | 94 | Buzzard Roost Creek | One of the first covered bridges in Alabama. Bridge burned down on July 15, 1972. |
Cane Creek | Calhoun | Ohatchee | 1886 | N/A | Cane Creek | Bridge was destroyed by a flood in early 1936. |
Chamblee Mill | Blount | Blountsville | N/A | 97 | Blue Springs Creek | Bridge no longer extant. |
Chattahoochee River | Barbour | Eufaula | 1833 | 540 | Chattahoochee River | One of the longest covered bridges constructed in Alabama. Demolished in 1924. |
Chosea Springs | Calhoun | Choccolocco | N/A | 98 | Choccolocco Creek | Bridge was demolished in 1963. |
Cofer | Cullman | Trimble | N/A | 239 | Ryan Creek | Bridge was dismantled around 1934. |
Cowikee Creek | Barbour | Eufaula | N/A | N/A | Cowikee Creek | Bridge was demolished in 1913. |
Cripple Deer Creek | Colbert | Allsboro | ca. 1859 | N/A | Cripple Deer Creek | Bridge no longer extant. |
Crooked Shoals | Blount | Nectar | 1931 | N/A | Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River | Bridge burned down in 1954. |
Dean's Ferry | Blount | County Line | 1930 | N/A | Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River | Bridge no longer extant. |
Dillingham Street | Russell | Phenix City | 1832 | 400 | Chattahoochee River | Bridge was destroyed during the Civil War Battle of Girard in 1865. |
Duck Branch | Blount | N/A | 1930 | N/A | N/A | Bridge no longer extant. |
Duck Springs | Etowah | Duck Springs | 1879 | 119 | Big Wills Creek | Unique structural design. Bridge burned down on July 7, 1972. |
Five Points | Blount | Blountsville | N/A | N/A | Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River | Bridge was destroyed by a flood. |
Gable | Blount | Blountsville | N/A | 240 | Mulberry Fork of the Black Warrior River | Bridge no longer extant. |
Garden City | Cullman | Garden City | 1891 | 280 | Mulberry Fork of the Black Warrior River | Bridge burned down on October 12, 1951. |
Gay | Cullman | Pleasant Grove | 1898 | 123 | Eight Mile Creek | Bridge was dismantled in 1963. |
Golden's Mill | Tallapoosa | East Tallasee | N/A | N/A | Sougahatchee Creek | Bridge no longer extant. |
Hillabee Creek | Calhoun | Hicks | N/A | N/A | Hillabee Creek | Bridge was destroyed by a flood in early 1964. |
Hillabee Creek | Tallapoosa | Alexander City | N/A | N/A | Hillabee Creek | Bridge no longer extant. |
Inland | Blount | Remlap | 1930 | N/A | Blackburn Fork of the Little Warrior River | Consisted of two covered bridges crossing a river bend. The road was eventually rerouted sometime around 1960 and the bridges were no longer needed. |
Joy Road | Blount | Blountsville | N/A | 121 | Austin Creek | Bridge was demolished. |
Kilpatrick | Cullman | West Point | N/A | N/A | N/A | Bridge burned down on October 3, 1937. |
Lidy Walker | Cullman | Berlin | 1926 | 50 | Outlet to Lidy's Lake | Built in Blount County. Moved to Lidy's Lake in 1958 (private). Collapsed in August 2001. |
Lincoln | Talladega | Lincoln | 1903 | 160 | Choccolocco Creek | Bridge burned down on July 15, 1963. |
Loachapoka | Lee | Loachapoka | N/A | N/A | Sougahatchee Creek | Bridge was destroyed by a flood around 1919. |
Locust Fork | Blount | Locust Fork | 1927 | N/A | Little Warrior River | Bridge was replaced in 1953. |
Mardis Mill | Blount | Blountsville | N/A | N/A | Graves Creek | Bridge no longer extant. |
Meadows Mill | Lee | Beulah | 1902 | 140 | Halawakee Creek | Located near Meadows Mill, a historic gristmill. Bridge burned down on October 4, 1973. |
Mellon | Calhoun | DeArmanville | late-19th Century | 100 | Choccolocco Creek | Bridge burned down on October 3, 1970. |
Miller | Tallapoosa | New Site | 1887 | 600 | Tallapoosa River | Once the longest covered bridge in the United States. Bridge destroyed during a flood in July 1963. |
Mulberry | Cullman | Hanceville | N/A | 220 | Mulberry Fork of the Black Warrior River | Bridge no longer extant. |
Nectar | Blount | Nectar | 1934 | 385 | Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River | Once the seventh longest covered bridge in the country. Bridge burned down on June 13, 1993. |
Norman | Montgomery | Montgomery | N/A | N/A | Catoma Creek | Bridge no longer extant. |
Oakachoy | Coosa | Nixburg | 1916 | 56 | Oakachoy Creek | Old wagon ruts located near site. Bridge burned down on June 2, 2001. |
Old Tin Sides | Talladega | Childersburg | N/A | N/A | Tallaseehatchee Creek | Bridge no longer extant. |
Phillips | Etowah | Duck Springs | ca. 1823 | N/A | Big Wills Creek | Bridge no longer extant. |
Pintlala Creek | Montgomery | Hope Hull | 1861 | 114 | Pintlala Creek | Bridge demolished in the mid-20th Century. |
Putman | Cullman | Hanceville | N/A | 474 | Mulberry Fork of the Black Warrior River | One of the longest covered bridges constructed in Alabama. Bridge no longer extant. |
Rockhole | Blount | Summit | N/A | 121 | Mulberry Fork of the Black Warrior River | Bridge no longer extant. |
Sanford | Cullman | Bremen | N/A | 152 | Ryan Creek | Bridge no longer extant. |
Slab Creek | Blount | McLarty | 1933 | N/A | Slab Creek | Bridge was destroyed by a flood on February 3, 1936. |
Snead | Blount | Snead | N/A | 46 | Big Mud Creek | Bridge no longer extant. |
Standridge | Blount | Hayden | 1934 | 432 | Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River | Bridge burned down on November 18, 1967. |
Tallahatchee | Calhoun | Piedmont | ca. 1900 | 61 | Pond near Nances Creek | Moved to Piedmont from nearby Wellington in 1975 (private). Bridge may be still in private use although there are currently no reports of its continued existence. |
Tanner | Cullman | Baileyton | N/A | 257 | Duck Creek | Bridge no longer extant. |
Trimble | Cullman | Trimble | N/A | 151 | Ryan Creek | Bridge no longer extant. |
Tyre Green | Blount | Locust Fork | 1933 | 127 | Little Warrior River | Bridge no longer extant. |
Vaughn | Blount | Hayden | 1934 | N/A | Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River | Bridge no longer extant. |
Ward's Mill | Blount | Susan Moore | N/A | N/A | Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River | Bridge no longer extant. |
Wasden Road | Montgomery | Hope Hull | 1851 | 82 | Pintlala Creek | Bridge collapsed in 1965. |
Welti Road | Cullman | Welti | ca. 1904 | 100 | Eight Mile Creek | Bridge burned down on October 22, 1939. |
Wetumpka | Elmore | Wetumpka | 1844 | N/A | Coosa River | Bridge was destroyed by a major flood in 1886. |
Whaley Mill | Cullman | Hanceville | N/A | 52 | Whaley Mill Creek | Bridge was replaced in 1963. |
Woods | Lee | Auburn | N/A | 100 | Sougahatchee Creek | Bridge collapsed on April 21, 1959. |
Wool Mill | Autauga | Prattville | N/A | N/A | Autauga Creek | Bridge collapsed in 1916. |
NOTE: Tallaseehatchee Creek and Tallasseehatchee Creek are two different waterways. One is located in Talladega County, while the other is in Calhoun County (also called Tallahatchee Creek).
References
- Dale J. Travis Covered Bridges. AL Covered Bridges: Credits. Retrieved Aug. 13, 2007.
- Bridges to the Past: Alabama's Covered Bridges. AL Covered Bridges: Credits. Retrieved Aug. 13, 2007.
- Alabama Bureau of Tourism & Travel. AL Covered Bridges: Credits. Retrieved Aug. 13, 2007.
- The Decatur Daily. AL Covered Bridges: Credits. Retrieved Aug. 13, 2007.
- Auburn University: The Plainsman. AL Covered Bridges: Credits. Retrieved Aug. 14, 2007.
- Library of Congress - Prints & Photographs Reading Room. AL Covered Bridges: Credits. Retrieved Aug. 14, 2007.
- TopoZone. AL Covered Bridges: Credits. Retrieved Aug. 16, 2007.
- Rootsweb (USGenWeb Archives Project - Alabama). AL Covered Bridges: Credits. Retrieved Aug. 25, 2007.
- The Alexander City Outlook (June 6, 2001), page 1A. Retrieved Oct. 25, 2007.
- Alabama Historical Commission (1969). Alabama's Covered Bridges. Retrieved Oct. 25, 2007.
- The Anniston Star (September 4, 1975), page 1A. Retrieved Oct. 26, 2007.
- Alabama Department of Archives and History. AL Covered Bridges: Credits. Retrieved Oct. 26, 2007.
- Encyclopedia of Alabama - Horace King. AL Covered Bridges: Credits. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
- Wetumpka's Bridges. AL Covered Bridges: Credits. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
- Covered Spans of Yesteryear. AL Covered Bridges: Credits. Retrieved Aug. 12, 2013.
- The Historic Huntsville Quarterly (Fall-Winter 1993). AL Covered Bridges: Credits. Retrieved Aug. 13, 2013.
- The Anniston Star (June 14, 1964), page 3A. Retrieved Apr. 30, 2014.
- The Anniston Star (February 20, 1936), page 7. Retrieved Apr. 30, 2014.
- ADAH Digital Collections AL Covered Bridges: Credits. Retrieved Apr. 30, 2014.
- Library of Congress. AL Covered Bridges: Credits. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
- U.S. National Park Service. AL Covered Bridges: Credits. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
- The Cullman Democrat (March 24, 1932), page 1. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
- The Cullman Democrat (October 7, 1937), page 1. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
- National Register of Historic Places. AL Covered Bridges: Credits. Retrieved Jun. 3, 2014.
External links
- Bridges to the Past: Alabama's Covered Bridges
- Alabama Covered Bridges List (Dale J. Travis)
- ADAH Digital Collections (Alabama Historical Archives)