Covered bridges are an integral part of Indiana's history as displayed in this 2002 commemorative USPS stamp. At one time Indiana was dotted with literally hundreds of Covered Bridges and as late as 1937 there were still 202 standing ... today only 90 historic covered bridges remain while two others await restoration. These bridges were "covered" to keep the wood main trusses dry thereby preventing decay and increasing the life of the bridge. Sometimes called "kissing bridges" according to the tradition that when a young couple was courting, the man was entitled to a kiss from his sweetheart as their wagon or buggy passed across the bridge. Covered bridges were often the largest covered area within a community and were therefore used for revival meetings, weddings and political rallies. Though many of these bridges are still available for us to visit today, time and vandalism have taken a toll and many are in need of serious repair before they disappear forever. It is my hope that this site will increase awareness of this potential loss and motivate you to find a bridge that needs your support!

About the maps ... some of these bridges are "off the beaten path," and I mean way off! If you have never experienced driving old country roads you probably won't appreciate what I'm saying, but please take my advice, don't hesitate to stop and ask for assistance as, generally speaking, Hoosier Hospitality is alive and well. I have tried to verify each map as I actually travel to the bridge to take pictures, however, sometimes even then I've not been 100% sure and would therefore recommend you invest a few dollars in an Indiana State Atlas ... following is a link to a good one that you can purchase from Amazon.com!

Indiana Atlas & Gazetteer; Topo Maps of the Entire State, (Yarmouth, Maine, DeLorme).

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