How Many Covered Bridges Are Left in Iowa?
Iowa is home to several notable and historic landmarks. These include the Field of Dreams in Dyersville, The Grotto of the Redemption in West Bend, and of course, the timeless Bridges of Madison County. But just how many of these bridges remain? Some have been moved, others have broken down with the passage of time, and still others have been split in two and placed in different locations.
They are, quite possibly the most famous structures in the entire state. Reminiscent of a bygone era, the red covered bridges of Iowa have been romanticized in American literature for decades and have been the backdrop in a Broadway musical. They have even been the subject of a major motion picture, starring Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep in the 90s, called 'The Bridges of Madison County.'
The era of covered bridges in North America spans slightly over two centuries, including the covered bridges in Madison County, Iowa, which were built between 1868-1889. There were at least nineteen documented covered bridges built in Madison County, making it the Covered Bridge Capital of Iowa. Today, there are six bridges remaining, five of which are original.
-Explore Madison County Website
The historic covered bridges in Madison county that remain are: The Cedar, Cutler-Donahoe, Hogback, Holliwell, Imes, and Roseman.
According to the Madison County Tourism website, these bridges are open to the public and accessible by bicycle, or on foot. Just one of the remaining bridges is open to vehicle traffic and that is the Cedar Bridge. You can view a printable map of the covered bridges in Madison County and their locations here.
There are also a few more of these historic covered bridges found outside of Madison County. These include the Hammond Bridge in Marion County, the Marysville Covered Bridge in Marion County, the Wilcox Game Preserve Bridge in Marion County, and the Owens Covered Bridge in Polk County.
Interestingly enough, the Marysville and Wilcox bridges are the same bridge, which was built in the 1870s. Originally, the bridge was over 80 feet long. In the 1970s this bridge was cut in half and sent to two separate locations. The bridges are both still standing to this day and are around 14 miles away from each other. However, if you're planning on a road trip, keep in mind that the Wilcox Bridge is reportedly gated off, according to recent Google Reviews.
To learn more about the Bridges of Madison County, check out the YouTube video below.
Story Sources: Iowa Covered Bridges Wiki Page, Explore Madison County Website
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