List of Lancaster County covered bridges
Encyclopedia
Image:Lancaster County Existing Covered Bridges Dot Map.png|thumb|right|Map of the 29 existing covered bridges as of October, 2006 (clickable)
circle 1013 1173 24 Baumgardener's Covered Bridge
Baumgardener's Covered Bridge
Baumgardener's Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans Pequea Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. A county-owned and maintained bridge, its official designation is the Pequea #10 Bridge....
circle 1331 532 24 Bitzer's Mill Covered Bridge
Bitzer's Mill Covered Bridge
Bitzer's Mill Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans the Conestoga River in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is the oldest bridge in the county still in use. A county-owned and maintained bridge, its official designation is the Big Conestoga #2 Bridge...
circle 1366 333 24 Bucher's Mill Covered Bridge
Bucher's Mill Covered Bridge
Bucher's Mill Covered Bridge or Butcher's Mill Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans Cocalico Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. After the Landis Mill Covered Bridge, it is the second shortest covered bridge in the county...
circle 1008 655 24 Buck Hill Covered Bridge
circle 904 1266 24 Colemanville Covered Bridge
Colemanville Covered Bridge
Colemanville Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans Pequea Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. After Hunsecker's Mill Covered Bridge, it is Lancaster County's second-longest single-span covered bridge still being used...
circle 1069 409 24 Erb's Covered Bridge
Erb's Covered Bridge
Erb's Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans Hammer Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. A county-owned and maintained bridge, its official designation is the Hammer Creek #1 Bridge....
circle 585 772 24 Forry's Mill Covered Bridge
Forry's Mill Covered Bridge
Forry's Mill Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans Chiques Creek in West Hempfield in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. A county-owned and maintained bridge, its official designation is the Big Chiques #7 Bridge...
circle 1315 931 24 Herr's Mill Covered Bridge
Herr's Mill Covered Bridge
Herr's Mill Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans Pequea Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is also sometimes known as Soudersburg Bridge....
circle 1115 692 24 Hunsecker's Covered Bridge
circle 1516 1265 24 Jackson's Sawmill Covered Bridge
Jackson's Sawmill Covered Bridge
Jackson's Sawmill Covered Bridge or Eichelberger's Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans the West Branch of the Octoraro Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. A county-owned and maintained bridge, its official designation is the West Octoraro #1 Bridge...
circle 736 522 24 Kauffman's Distillery Covered Bridge
Kauffman's Distillery Covered Bridge
Kauffman's Distillery Covered Bridge or Sporting Hill Bridge is a covered bridge that spans Chiques Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. A county-owned and maintained bridge, its official designation is the Big Chiques #1 Bridge...
circle 1211 447 24 Keller's Mill Covered Bridge
Keller's Mill Covered Bridge
Keller's Mill Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans Cocalico Creek in Ephrata Township, Lancaster County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. A county-owned and maintained bridge, its official designation is the Cocalico #5 Bridge...
circle 1040 918 24 Kurtz's Mill Covered Bridge
Kurtz's Mill Covered Bridge
Kurtz's Mill Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans Mill Creek in the Lancaster County Park in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States...
circle 891 742 24 Landis Mill Covered Bridge
Landis Mill Covered Bridge
Landis Mill Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans the Little Conestoga Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. A county-owned and maintained bridge, its official designation is the Little Conestoga #1 Bridge...
circle 1441 919 24 Leaman's Place Covered Bridge
Leaman's Place Covered Bridge
Leaman's Place Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans Pequea Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. A county-owned and maintained bridge, its official designation is the Pequea #4 Bridge...
circle 1155 1081 24 Lime Valley Covered Bridge
Lime Valley Covered Bridge
Lime Valley Covered Bridge or Strasburg Bridge is a covered bridge that spans Pequea Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. A county-owned and maintained bridge, its official designation is the Pequea #8 Bridge....
circle 1738 1157 24 Mercer's Mill Covered Bridge
Mercer's Mill Covered Bridge
Mercer's Mill Covered Bridge or Mercer's Ford Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans the East branch of the Octoraro Creek on the border between Lancaster County and Chester County in Pennsylvania, United States...
circle 1171 1023 24 Neff's Mill Covered Bridge
Neff's Mill Covered Bridge
Neff's Mill Covered Bridge or Bowman's Mill Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans the Pequea Creek on the border between West Lampeter Township and Strasburg Township in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States...
circle 1599 1570 24 Pine Grove Covered Bridge
Pine Grove Covered Bridge
Pine Grove Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans the East branch of the Octoraro Creek on the border between Lancaster County and Chester County in Pennsylvania, United States. It is the longest covered bridge in Lancaster County....
circle 1113 641 24 Pinetown Bushong's Covered Bridge
circle 1736 559 24 Pool Forge Covered Bridge
Pool Forge Covered Bridge
Pool Forge Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans the Conestoga River in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. The bridge is now on private property where it was once used as a storage barn before the owner added a road to receive vehicle traffic.The bridge has a single span,...
circle 1491 427 24 Red Run Covered Bridge
Red Run Covered Bridge
Red Run Covered Bridge or Oberhaltzer's Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that once spanned the Muddy Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. It was built in 1866 by Elias McMellen and is currently situated on private property next to the Red Run Campground...
circle 700 618 24 Schenck's Mill Covered Bridge
Schenck's Mill Covered Bridge
Schenk's Mill Covered Bridge or Shenk's Mill Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans the Big Chiques Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. A county-owned and maintained bridge, its official designation is the Big Chiques #4 Bridge...
circle 778 446 24 Shearer's Mill Covered Bridge
circle 606 732 24 Siegrist's Mill Covered Bridge
Siegrist's Mill Covered Bridge
Siegrist's Mill Covered Bridge is a , Burr Arch Truss covered bridge over Chiques Creek between Rapho and West Hempfield townships, Lancaster County in U.S. state of Pennsylvania. Owned and maintained by the county, its official designation is the Big Chiques #6 Bridge.The bridge's World Guide to...
circle 1684 529 24 Weaver's Mill Covered Bridge
Weaver's Mill Covered Bridge
Weaver's Mill Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans the Conestoga River in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. The , bridge was built in 1878 by B. C. Carter and J. F. Stauffer across Conestoga River. It is also known as Isaac Shearer's Mill Bridge.The bridge has a single span,...
circle 1491 1480 24 White Rock Forge Mill Covered Bridge
circle 1224 887 24 Willow Hill Covered Bridge
Willow Hill Covered Bridge
Willow Hill Covered Bridge is a covered bridge located off U.S. Route 30 that spans Miller’s Run in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States...
circle 1123 457 24 Zook's Mill Covered Bridge
Zook's Mill Covered Bridge
Zook's Mill Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans Cocalico Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. A county-owned and maintained bridge, its official designation is the Cocalico #7 Bridge. The bridge is also known as Wenger Covered Bridge or Rose Hill Covered Bridge...
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The following is a list of covered bridge
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...
s in Lancaster County
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Lancaster County, known as the Garden Spot of America or Pennsylvania Dutch Country, is a county located in the southeastern part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of 2010 the population was 519,445. Lancaster County forms the Lancaster Metropolitan Statistical Area, the...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Lancaster County has the most covered bridges in Pennsylvania with 29 covered bridges. Parke County, Indiana
Parke County, Indiana
Parke County is a county in the western part of the U.S. state of Indiana. It was formed in 1821 out of a portion of Vigo County. The county seat is Rockville....
has the most covered bridges of any county in the United States with 31 covered bridges All of the covered bridges in Lancaster County, except for the Hunsecker's Mill Covered Bridge
Hunsecker's Mill Covered Bridge
Hunsecker's Mill Covered Bridge is a covered bridge located in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. The bridge has a single span, wooden, double Burr arch trusses design. The bridge, which spans the Conestoga River, is 180 feet long, making it the longest single span covered bridge in...
, Kurtz's Mill Covered Bridge
Kurtz's Mill Covered Bridge
Kurtz's Mill Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans Mill Creek in the Lancaster County Park in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States...
, and the Willow Hill Covered Bridge
Willow Hill Covered Bridge
Willow Hill Covered Bridge is a covered bridge located off U.S. Route 30 that spans Miller’s Run in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States...
, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National 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...
. Most have been on the list since 1980. The WGCB
World Guide to Covered Bridges
The World Guide to Covered Bridges is a covered bridge numbering system. The system was invented by John Diehl, the chairman of the Ohio Covered Bridge Committee. The committee first used the numbering system in 1953 to publish a list of covered bridges in Ohio....
numbering prefix for the county is 38-36
The bridges are an important tourist attraction, both economically and culturally. This is due to both their historical significance and, being in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch
Pennsylvania Dutch
Pennsylvania Dutch refers to immigrants and their descendants from southwestern Germany and Switzerland who settled in Pennsylvania in the 17th and 18th centuries...
country, the frequent, iconic Amish
Amish
The Amish , sometimes referred to as Amish Mennonites, are a group of Christian church fellowships that form a subgroup of the Mennonite churches...
horse and buggies
Horse and buggy
A horse and buggy or horse and carriage refers to a light, simple, two-person carriage of the late 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries, drawn usually by one or sometimes by two horses...
bridge crossings. They are often visited in the form of covered bridge driving tours.
History
In the early to late 1800s there were approximately 1,500 covered bridges in the state of Pennsylvania. That number has decreased to just over 200 bridges, with more located in Lancaster County than any other county in the state. The remaining covered bridges in the county are a remnant of a time where most bridges in the United States were made from wood, since wood was relatively inexpensive and easy to acquire. Bridge making, however, was anything but easy and required significant cost, effort, and time. The cost of the building the bridges was covered by government funds or by private individuals building bridges across their land. Since the bridges were built from wood, they were covered to provide protection from the weather, dramatically extending the life of the bridges. Nevertheless, as floods and fires destroyed more bridges, they were eventually replaced or bypassed with more durable and longer-lasting reinforced concreteReinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete is concrete in which reinforcement bars , reinforcement grids, plates or fibers have been incorporated to strengthen the concrete in tension. It was invented by French gardener Joseph Monier in 1849 and patented in 1867. The term Ferro Concrete refers only to concrete that is...
and steel beam bridges. Most of the existing bridges are owned by the county government which is responsible for periodic upkeep and maintenance.
Modern status
Throughout the years, many of the existing covered bridges have been destroyed, but were later reconstructed. For example, in 1972 a number of the county's covered bridges were either destroyed or badly damaged as a result of flooding caused by Hurricane AgnesHurricane Agnes
Hurricane Agnes was the first tropical storm and first hurricane of the 1972 Atlantic hurricane season. A rare June hurricane, it made landfall on the Florida Panhandle before moving northeastward and ravaging the Mid-Atlantic region as a tropical storm...
. Notably, the Zook's Mill Covered Bridge
Zook's Mill Covered Bridge
Zook's Mill Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans Cocalico Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. A county-owned and maintained bridge, its official designation is the Cocalico #7 Bridge. The bridge is also known as Wenger Covered Bridge or Rose Hill Covered Bridge...
managed to survive despite being filled with a few feet of water. The Willow Hill Covered Bridge
Willow Hill Covered Bridge
Willow Hill Covered Bridge is a covered bridge located off U.S. Route 30 that spans Miller’s Run in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States...
, a relatively new bridge built in 1962, is a reconstructed bridge using materials recovered from the old Miller's Farm
Miller's Farm Covered Bridge
Miller's Farm Covered Bridge was a covered bridge constructed by Elias McMellen in 1871. The bridge was located in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. In 1962, the bridge's remaining parts along with timbers from Daniel Good's Fording Covered Bridge were used in the construction of the Willow Hill...
and Good's Fording covered bridges.
Design
The covered bridges in Lancaster County are all built of similar construction and appearance. Some of this is because many of the existing bridges were built by the same man, Elias McMellenElias McMellen
Captain Elias McMellen Captain Elias McMellen Captain Elias McMellen (b. 1839-11-16 - d. 2 March 1916, was a bridge-maker and Captain in the Union Army.McMellen's wife’s name was Annie E. Wenditz (November 13, 1841-April 1, 1899). They were married on 21 Sep 1865 and had the following children: ...
, who built 12 of the existing bridges. The most common construction method used was that of the Burr arch truss. It is found in its single and double span forms in almost all of the covered bridges in the county, except for the Landis Mill Covered Bridge
Landis Mill Covered Bridge
Landis Mill Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans the Little Conestoga Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. A county-owned and maintained bridge, its official designation is the Little Conestoga #1 Bridge...
, a multiple kingpost design. Somewhat ironically, this short bridge was built by McMellen who used the Burr arch truss design in every other bridge he built. The Pine Grove Covered Bridge
Pine Grove Covered Bridge
Pine Grove Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans the East branch of the Octoraro Creek on the border between Lancaster County and Chester County in Pennsylvania, United States. It is the longest covered bridge in Lancaster County....
and Herr's Mill Covered Bridge
Herr's Mill Covered Bridge
Herr's Mill Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans Pequea Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is also sometimes known as Soudersburg Bridge....
are the county's only double span covered bridges. While most of the bridges are situated in remote locations where there is limited traffic, a number of the bridges, such as Jackson's Sawmill Covered Bridge
Jackson's Sawmill Covered Bridge
Jackson's Sawmill Covered Bridge or Eichelberger's Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans the West Branch of the Octoraro Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. A county-owned and maintained bridge, its official designation is the West Octoraro #1 Bridge...
, were later reinforced with steel beams underneath the bridge floor and steel hanger rods on the sides to support heavier traffic or give the bridge additional support.
Historically, the Lancaster County covered bridges were painted with red sides and all-white portals. Today most of the bridges retain this pattern, however, some of the portals are painted red with white trim (such as on the Zook's Mill Covered Bridge
Zook's Mill Covered Bridge
Zook's Mill Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans Cocalico Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. A county-owned and maintained bridge, its official designation is the Cocalico #7 Bridge. The bridge is also known as Wenger Covered Bridge or Rose Hill Covered Bridge...
) or all-red (such as on the Pool Forge Covered Bridge
Pool Forge Covered Bridge
Pool Forge Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans the Conestoga River in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. The bridge is now on private property where it was once used as a storage barn before the owner added a road to receive vehicle traffic.The bridge has a single span,...
). A number of these bridges also have the side panels painted red on the inside of the bridge while leaving the trusses unpainted. The Keller's Mill Covered Bridge
Keller's Mill Covered Bridge
Keller's Mill Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans Cocalico Creek in Ephrata Township, Lancaster County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. A county-owned and maintained bridge, its official designation is the Cocalico #5 Bridge...
is painted all-white, the only one of its kind in the county. Three of the bridges, Buck Hill Covered Bridge, Schenck's Mill Covered Bridge
Schenck's Mill Covered Bridge
Schenk's Mill Covered Bridge or Shenk's Mill Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans the Big Chiques Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. A county-owned and maintained bridge, its official designation is the Big Chiques #4 Bridge...
, and Shearer's Covered Bridge
Shearer's Covered Bridge
Shearer's Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans the Big Chiques Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. ....
, have horizontal side boards. The rest of the bridges have vertical side boards.
Existing bridges
| Bridge | Image | WGCB World Guide to Covered Bridges The World Guide to Covered Bridges is a covered bridge numbering system. The system was invented by John Diehl, the chairman of the Ohio Covered Bridge Committee. The committee first used the numbering system in 1953 to publish a list of covered bridges in Ohio.... Code |
Truss Type | Length | Year | Original Builder | Open to Traffic? | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baumgardener's Covered Bridge Baumgardener's Covered Bridge Baumgardener's Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans Pequea Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. A county-owned and maintained bridge, its official designation is the Pequea #10 Bridge.... |
 |
38-36-25 | Burr arch truss Burr 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.... |
120 feet (36.6 m) | 1860 | Davis Kitch | Yes (one lane) |  |
| Bitzer's Mill Covered Bridge Bitzer's Mill Covered Bridge Bitzer's Mill Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans the Conestoga River in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is the oldest bridge in the county still in use. A county-owned and maintained bridge, its official designation is the Big Conestoga #2 Bridge... |
 |
38-36-04 | Burr arch truss Burr 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.... |
98 feet (29.9 m) | 1846 | George Fink and Sam Reamsnyder | Yes (one lane) |  |
| Bucher's Mill Covered Bridge Bucher's Mill Covered Bridge Bucher's Mill Covered Bridge or Butcher's Mill Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans Cocalico Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. After the Landis Mill Covered Bridge, it is the second shortest covered bridge in the county... |
 |
38-36-12 | Burr arch truss Burr 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.... |
64 feet (19.5 m) | 1881 | Elias McMellen Elias McMellen Captain Elias McMellen Captain Elias McMellen Captain Elias McMellen (b. 1839-11-16 - d. 2 March 1916, was a bridge-maker and Captain in the Union Army.McMellen's wife’s name was Annie E. Wenditz (November 13, 1841-April 1, 1899). They were married on 21 Sep 1865 and had the following children: ... |
Yes (one lane) |  |
| Buck Hill Covered Bridge |  |
38-36-15 | Burr arch truss Burr 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.... |
58 feet (17.7 m) | 1825 | Unknown | No |  |
| Colemanville Covered Bridge Colemanville Covered Bridge Colemanville Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans Pequea Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. After Hunsecker's Mill Covered Bridge, it is Lancaster County's second-longest single-span covered bridge still being used... |
 |
38-36-26 | Burr arch truss Burr 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.... |
170 feet (51.8 m) | 1856 | James C. Carpenter James C. Carpenter James C. Carpenter was a Lancaster County, Pennsylvania covered bridge builder. He is known to have built nine covered bridges, five of which still exist. Two of his bridges, Herr's Mill Covered Bridge and Colemanville Covered Bridge, are among the longest covered bridges remaining in the county... |
Yes (one lane) |  |
| Erb's Covered Bridge Erb's Covered Bridge Erb's Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans Hammer Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. A county-owned and maintained bridge, its official designation is the Hammer Creek #1 Bridge.... |
 |
38-36-34 | Burr arch truss Burr 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.... |
80 feet (24.4 m) | 1849 | Unknown | Yes (one lane) |  |
| Forry's Mill Covered Bridge Forry's Mill Covered Bridge Forry's Mill Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans Chiques Creek in West Hempfield in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. A county-owned and maintained bridge, its official designation is the Big Chiques #7 Bridge... |
 |
38-36-28 | Burr arch truss Burr 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.... |
103 feet (31.4 m) | 1869 | Elias McMellen Elias McMellen Captain Elias McMellen Captain Elias McMellen Captain Elias McMellen (b. 1839-11-16 - d. 2 March 1916, was a bridge-maker and Captain in the Union Army.McMellen's wife’s name was Annie E. Wenditz (November 13, 1841-April 1, 1899). They were married on 21 Sep 1865 and had the following children: ... |
Yes (one lane) |  |
| Herr's Mill Covered Bridge Herr's Mill Covered Bridge Herr's Mill Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans Pequea Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is also sometimes known as Soudersburg Bridge.... |
 |
38-36-21 | Burr arch truss Burr 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.... |
178 feet (54.3 m) | 1844 | Joseph Elliot and Robert Russell | No |  |
| Hunsecker's Mill Covered Bridge Hunsecker's Mill Covered Bridge Hunsecker's Mill Covered Bridge is a covered bridge located in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. The bridge has a single span, wooden, double Burr arch trusses design. The bridge, which spans the Conestoga River, is 180 feet long, making it the longest single span covered bridge in... |
 |
38-36-06 | Burr arch truss Burr 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.... |
180 feet (54.9 m) | 1843 | John Russell | Yes (one lane) |  |
| Jackson's Sawmill Covered Bridge Jackson's Sawmill Covered Bridge Jackson's Sawmill Covered Bridge or Eichelberger's Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans the West Branch of the Octoraro Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. A county-owned and maintained bridge, its official designation is the West Octoraro #1 Bridge... |
 |
38-36-33 | Burr arch truss Burr 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.... |
143 feet (43.6 m) | 1878 | John Smith and Samuel Stauffer | Yes (one lane) |  |
| Kauffman's Distillery Covered Bridge Kauffman's Distillery Covered Bridge Kauffman's Distillery Covered Bridge or Sporting Hill Bridge is a covered bridge that spans Chiques Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. A county-owned and maintained bridge, its official designation is the Big Chiques #1 Bridge... |
 |
38-36-32 | Burr arch truss Burr 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.... |
96 feet (29.3 m) | 1857 | James C. Carpenter James C. Carpenter James C. Carpenter was a Lancaster County, Pennsylvania covered bridge builder. He is known to have built nine covered bridges, five of which still exist. Two of his bridges, Herr's Mill Covered Bridge and Colemanville Covered Bridge, are among the longest covered bridges remaining in the county... |
Yes (one lane) |  |
| Keller's Mill Covered Bridge Keller's Mill Covered Bridge Keller's Mill Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans Cocalico Creek in Ephrata Township, Lancaster County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. A county-owned and maintained bridge, its official designation is the Cocalico #5 Bridge... |
 |
38-36-13 | Burr arch truss Burr 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.... |
74 feet (22.6 m) | 1873 | Elias McMellen Elias McMellen Captain Elias McMellen Captain Elias McMellen Captain Elias McMellen (b. 1839-11-16 - d. 2 March 1916, was a bridge-maker and Captain in the Union Army.McMellen's wife’s name was Annie E. Wenditz (November 13, 1841-April 1, 1899). They were married on 21 Sep 1865 and had the following children: ... |
Yes (one lane) |  |
| Kurtz's Mill Covered Bridge Kurtz's Mill Covered Bridge Kurtz's Mill Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans Mill Creek in the Lancaster County Park in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States... |
 |
38-36-03 | Burr arch truss Burr 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.... |
90 feet (27.4 m) | 1876 | W. W. Upp | Yes (one lane) |  |
| Landis Mill Covered Bridge Landis Mill Covered Bridge Landis Mill Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans the Little Conestoga Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. A county-owned and maintained bridge, its official designation is the Little Conestoga #1 Bridge... |
 |
38-36-16 | Multiple king post King post A king post is a central vertical supporting post used in architectural, bridge, or aircraft design applications.-Architecture:... |
53 feet (16.2 m) | 1873 | Elias McMellen Elias McMellen Captain Elias McMellen Captain Elias McMellen Captain Elias McMellen (b. 1839-11-16 - d. 2 March 1916, was a bridge-maker and Captain in the Union Army.McMellen's wife’s name was Annie E. Wenditz (November 13, 1841-April 1, 1899). They were married on 21 Sep 1865 and had the following children: ... |
Yes (one lane) |  |
| Leaman's Place Covered Bridge Leaman's Place Covered Bridge Leaman's Place Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans Pequea Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. A county-owned and maintained bridge, its official designation is the Pequea #4 Bridge... |
 |
38-36-20 | Burr arch truss Burr 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.... |
113 feet (34.4 m) | 1845 | James C. Carpenter James C. Carpenter James C. Carpenter was a Lancaster County, Pennsylvania covered bridge builder. He is known to have built nine covered bridges, five of which still exist. Two of his bridges, Herr's Mill Covered Bridge and Colemanville Covered Bridge, are among the longest covered bridges remaining in the county... |
Yes (one lane) |  |
| Lime Valley Covered Bridge Lime Valley Covered Bridge Lime Valley Covered Bridge or Strasburg Bridge is a covered bridge that spans Pequea Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. A county-owned and maintained bridge, its official designation is the Pequea #8 Bridge.... |
 |
38-36-23 | Burr arch truss Burr 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.... |
103 feet (31.4 m) | 1871 | Joseph Cramer or Elias McMellen Elias McMellen Captain Elias McMellen Captain Elias McMellen Captain Elias McMellen (b. 1839-11-16 - d. 2 March 1916, was a bridge-maker and Captain in the Union Army.McMellen's wife’s name was Annie E. Wenditz (November 13, 1841-April 1, 1899). They were married on 21 Sep 1865 and had the following children: ... |
Yes (one lane) |  |
| Mercer's Mill Covered Bridge Mercer's Mill Covered Bridge Mercer's Mill Covered Bridge or Mercer's Ford Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans the East branch of the Octoraro Creek on the border between Lancaster County and Chester County in Pennsylvania, United States... † |
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38-36-38 | Burr arch truss Burr 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.... |
87 feet (26.5 m) | 1880 | B. J. Carter | Yes (one lane) |  |
| Neff's Mill Covered Bridge Neff's Mill Covered Bridge Neff's Mill Covered Bridge or Bowman's Mill Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans the Pequea Creek on the border between West Lampeter Township and Strasburg Township in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States... |
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38-36-22 | Burr arch truss Burr 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.... |
102 feet (31.1 m) | 1824 | Christian Brackbill | Yes (one lane) |  |
| Pine Grove Covered Bridge Pine Grove Covered Bridge Pine Grove Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans the East branch of the Octoraro Creek on the border between Lancaster County and Chester County in Pennsylvania, United States. It is the longest covered bridge in Lancaster County.... † |
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38-36-41 | Burr arch truss Burr 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.... |
204 feet (62.2 m) | 1884 | Elias McMellen Elias McMellen Captain Elias McMellen Captain Elias McMellen Captain Elias McMellen (b. 1839-11-16 - d. 2 March 1916, was a bridge-maker and Captain in the Union Army.McMellen's wife’s name was Annie E. Wenditz (November 13, 1841-April 1, 1899). They were married on 21 Sep 1865 and had the following children: ... |
Yes (one lane) |  |
| Pinetown Bushong's Mill Covered Bridge |  |
38-36-05 | Burr arch truss Burr 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.... |
133 feet (40.5 m) | 1867 | Elias McMellen Elias McMellen Captain Elias McMellen Captain Elias McMellen Captain Elias McMellen (b. 1839-11-16 - d. 2 March 1916, was a bridge-maker and Captain in the Union Army.McMellen's wife’s name was Annie E. Wenditz (November 13, 1841-April 1, 1899). They were married on 21 Sep 1865 and had the following children: ... |
Yes (one lane) |  |
| Pool Forge Covered Bridge Pool Forge Covered Bridge Pool Forge Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans the Conestoga River in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. The bridge is now on private property where it was once used as a storage barn before the owner added a road to receive vehicle traffic.The bridge has a single span,... |
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38-36-01 | Burr arch truss Burr 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.... |
99 feet (30.2 m) | 1859 | Levi Fink and Elias McMellen Elias McMellen Captain Elias McMellen Captain Elias McMellen Captain Elias McMellen (b. 1839-11-16 - d. 2 March 1916, was a bridge-maker and Captain in the Union Army.McMellen's wife’s name was Annie E. Wenditz (November 13, 1841-April 1, 1899). They were married on 21 Sep 1865 and had the following children: ... |
No |  |
| Red Run Covered Bridge Red Run Covered Bridge Red Run Covered Bridge or Oberhaltzer's Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that once spanned the Muddy Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. It was built in 1866 by Elias McMellen and is currently situated on private property next to the Red Run Campground... |
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38-36-10 | Burr arch truss Burr 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.... |
107 feet (32.6 m) | 1866 | Elias McMellen Elias McMellen Captain Elias McMellen Captain Elias McMellen Captain Elias McMellen (b. 1839-11-16 - d. 2 March 1916, was a bridge-maker and Captain in the Union Army.McMellen's wife’s name was Annie E. Wenditz (November 13, 1841-April 1, 1899). They were married on 21 Sep 1865 and had the following children: ... |
No |  |
| Schenck's Mill Covered Bridge Schenck's Mill Covered Bridge Schenk's Mill Covered Bridge or Shenk's Mill Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans the Big Chiques Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. A county-owned and maintained bridge, its official designation is the Big Chiques #4 Bridge... |
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38-36-30 | Burr arch truss Burr 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.... |
96 feet (29.3 m) | 1855 | Charles Malhorn and Levi Fink | Yes (one lane) |  |
| Shearer's Covered Bridge Shearer's Covered Bridge Shearer's Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans the Big Chiques Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. .... |
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38-36-31 | Burr arch truss Burr 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.... |
86 feet (26.2 m) | 1847 | Jacob Clare | No |  |
| Siegrist's Mill Covered Bridge Siegrist's Mill Covered Bridge Siegrist's Mill Covered Bridge is a , Burr Arch Truss covered bridge over Chiques Creek between Rapho and West Hempfield townships, Lancaster County in U.S. state of Pennsylvania. Owned and maintained by the county, its official designation is the Big Chiques #6 Bridge.The bridge's World Guide to... |
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38-36-37 | Burr arch truss Burr 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.... |
102 feet (31.1 m) | 1885 | James C. Carpenter James C. Carpenter James C. Carpenter was a Lancaster County, Pennsylvania covered bridge builder. He is known to have built nine covered bridges, five of which still exist. Two of his bridges, Herr's Mill Covered Bridge and Colemanville Covered Bridge, are among the longest covered bridges remaining in the county... |
Yes (one lane) |  |
| Weaver's Mill Covered Bridge Weaver's Mill Covered Bridge Weaver's Mill Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans the Conestoga River in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. The , bridge was built in 1878 by B. C. Carter and J. F. Stauffer across Conestoga River. It is also known as Isaac Shearer's Mill Bridge.The bridge has a single span,... |
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38-36-02 | Burr arch truss Burr 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.... |
85 feet (25.9 m) | 1878 | B. J. Carter and J. F. Stauffer | Yes (one lane) |  |
| White Rock Forge Covered Bridge White Rock Forge Covered Bridge White Rock Forge Covered Bridge or White Rock Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans the West Branch of the Octoraro Creek in southeast Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. A county-owned and maintained bridge, its official designation is the West Octoraro #2 Bridge... |
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38-36-18 | Burr arch truss Burr 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.... |
110 feet (33.5 m) | 1847 | John Russell and Elias McMellen Elias McMellen Captain Elias McMellen Captain Elias McMellen Captain Elias McMellen (b. 1839-11-16 - d. 2 March 1916, was a bridge-maker and Captain in the Union Army.McMellen's wife’s name was Annie E. Wenditz (November 13, 1841-April 1, 1899). They were married on 21 Sep 1865 and had the following children: ... |
Yes (one lane) |  |
| Willow Hill Covered Bridge Willow Hill Covered Bridge Willow Hill Covered Bridge is a covered bridge located off U.S. Route 30 that spans Miller’s Run in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States... |
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38-36-43 | Burr arch truss Burr 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.... |
93 feet (28.3 m) | 1962 | Roy Zimmerman | No |  |
| Zook's Mill Covered Bridge Zook's Mill Covered Bridge Zook's Mill Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans Cocalico Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. A county-owned and maintained bridge, its official designation is the Cocalico #7 Bridge. The bridge is also known as Wenger Covered Bridge or Rose Hill Covered Bridge... |
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38-36-14 | Burr arch truss Burr 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.... |
89 feet (27.1 m) | 1849 | Henry Zook | Yes (one lane) |  |
Former bridges
- Bellbank Covered Bridge† (burnt in 1979)
- Daniel Good's Fording Covered BridgeDaniel Good's Fording Covered BridgeDaniel Good's Fording Covered Bridge was a covered bridge located in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. It was built in 1855. In 1962 the bridge was used in the construction of the Willow Hill Covered Bridge to supplement the Miller's Farm Covered Bridge from which the Willow Hill covered bridge is...
(Used to make Willow Hill Covered BridgeWillow Hill Covered BridgeWillow Hill Covered Bridge is a covered bridge located off U.S. Route 30 that spans Miller’s Run in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States...
in 1962) - Miller's Farm Covered BridgeMiller's Farm Covered BridgeMiller's Farm Covered Bridge was a covered bridge constructed by Elias McMellen in 1871. The bridge was located in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. In 1962, the bridge's remaining parts along with timbers from Daniel Good's Fording Covered Bridge were used in the construction of the Willow Hill...
(Used to make Willow Hill Covered BridgeWillow Hill Covered BridgeWillow Hill Covered Bridge is a covered bridge located off U.S. Route 30 that spans Miller’s Run in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States...
in 1962) - Pennsylvania Railroad BridgePennsylvania Railroad Bridge (Columbia, Pennsylvania)The Pennsylvania Railroad Bridge once carried the York Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad across the Susquehanna River between Columbia and Wrightsville, Pennsylvania and is therefore considered a Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge...
‡ - Created in the 1820s, burnt during the American civil warAmerican Civil WarThe American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
in July 1863. It was the longest covered bridge in the world (over a mile and a quarter in length). - Risser's Mill Covered BridgeRisser's Mill Covered BridgeRisser's Mill Covered Bridge or Horst's Mill Covered Bridge was a covered bridge that spanned Little Chickie's Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. It was burnt by an arsonist on July 8, 2002. As of October, 2006, a concrete bridge is being built 100 feet north of the site of...
(burnt on July 8, 2002)
†Located on the border between Lancaster County and Chester County
Chester County, Pennsylvania
-State parks:*French Creek State Park*Marsh Creek State Park*White Clay Creek Preserve-Demographics:As of the 2010 census, the county was 85.5% White, 6.1% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 3.9% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 1.8% were two or more races, and 2.4% were...
‡Located on the border between Lancaster County and York County
York County, Pennsylvania
York County is a county in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 434,972. It is in the Susquehanna Valley, a large fertile agricultural region in South Central Pennsylvania....