My Fine Nine - Indiana's Covered Bridges

Westport Covered Bridge -- Decatur Co. 7/3/2010 (dwm)

My list of favorite bridges is filled with a bunch of ties.

Just to make it interesting, I chose 10% of Indiana's covered bridges for a fine nine. 

The Westport Covered Bridge was the covered bridge which started my search for all the bridges in the state.

The Westport Bridge worked a good life, was demoted to foot traffic, then received a shot in the arm when locals restored it.  They did very good work.

Aqueduct Bridge, Franklin Co. 6/24/11 (dwm)

It is the most unusual bridge ever... a bridge carrying water over water... the Aqueduct Covered Bridge.

The bridge carries the Whitewater canal over Duck Creek.   
Mid 19th century the canal was the highway of choice - they were dug across states to connect one river to another.  One of the reasons they didn't last long was they couldn't handle a lot of traffic.

There was room for a few passengers or perhaps a small load of cargo.  Barge power was literally horse-power, so it wasn't much faster than traveling over dusty and dirty roads.

It's hard to imagine now, which is why it is a treat to experience the ride in Metamora, Indiana with a ride on the Whitewater canal.

The Phillips Covered Bridge is the shortest bridge still standing in Indiana.

Phillips Covered Bridge, Parke Co. 4/17/2010 (dwm)

While there are a lot of other bridges in Parke County - what I like about this bridge was its setting at the bottom of a couple hills divided by a stream.

But it was a single flower 25 yards from the bridge that caught my attention.  It offered a foreground focal point that created the image I wanted.

I'm happy with a lot of the bridge pictures, but Phillips is right there at the top of the list.

Wallace Covered Bridge, Fountain Co.
10/29/2011 dwm photo

The Wallace Covered Bridge in Fountain County looks a lot better than it is.

It is held together by giant beams mounted across the interior.

The days when buggies and early cars used it to cross Sugar Mill Creek are long past.  Walking across it when I was there eight years ago felt like it might be a hazard.

The sun was in the right place that morning.  Low water and clean stones invited me into the center of the water bed where I crouched over the rocks and located the sun gleaming through a tree with gold leaves.

The Wallace bridge is close to the Indiana - Illinois line not far off Interstate highway 74.  If you are as lucky as me, the sun and angles will be with you.

Norris Ford Covered Bridge, Rush County    7/3/2010 (dwm)

Rush County is home to six covered bridges, but thankfully, there was a model when I stopped to see the Norris Ford Covered Bridge.

A few minutes after I got into position to take some shots, an Allis Chalmers tractor approached pulling a cultivator behind it.

The 1916 bridge has seen its fair share of tractors, and I was glad for the serendipitous timing while let me capture this crossing over the Big Flat Rock River.

Darlington Covered Bridge, Montgomery Co
10/29/2011   dwm photo

Timing counts for a lot when taking pictures.  If our visit to the Darlington Covered Bridge was in the late spring or summer, I never get the photo at right with the late fall day accented by Sugar Creek.

My view from a nearby modern bridge offered a perch over the water looking down stream at the bridge.

Friends and neighbors built the bridge just after the Civil War.  Their descendants banded together again 140 years later to restore the 140 foot long covered road.

The bridge floor is covered with wood blocks - a unique feature among the state's 90 bridges.

Darlington's bridge, nestled in a quiet valley surrounded by trees is one of the most romantic settings of any Hoosier bridge.  I think if it was a red bridge instead of white... it wouldn't be the correct look.

Rolling Stone Covered Bridge, Putnam Co 6/6/2010 (dwm)

While the Phillips photo above allowed me to frame the shot, the magnificent Rolling Stone Covered Bridge had nothing to do with any photography skills.

A bigger factor was that it was very early evening when we found it and the late day sun was streaming between each piece of lumber on the west side of the bridge.

As I stood inside, it was a special moment.  It was like finding your way inside a Thomas Kinkade painting.  This photo is a print on canvas in our home - my favorite.

North Manchester Covered Bridge, Wabash Co  10/15/11 dwm

If you have been following the weekly looks at covered bridges, this one should look familiar as it was posted just two weeks ago.

The North Manchester Covered Bridge is in the northeast corner of Indiana where there are only five bridges.  The northwest corner of the state has only one.

Anytime I could get down to river level, I liked those photo opportunities.  This bridge is framed by trees at either end and a park along one shore allowing admirers a close look.

Parke County has 38 covered bridges - 42% of Indiana's bridges - so it seems fair to have two of their bridges in my fine nine.

Zacke Cox Covered Bridge, Parke Co 10/29/11 dwm photo

The Zacke Cox Covered Bridge needed to be tracked down.  We made three trips to Parke County.  Some bridges were photographed twice while others hid among the hills.

The Cox bridge is in a valley divided by Rock Run Creek, so it is sheltered from heavy weather by tree lined hills except for floods.  Its out of the way location reduces tourist traffic too, making this one of the less known gems among the bridges.

You've seen them all now, what are your favorites?   For another look, head to My Covered Bridge Collection to see them all.